Martineztown

Martineztown Park Monument sign

NPS Photo

Quick Facts

Location:

Martineztown, Albuquerque, New Mexico (35.086, -106.641)

Significance:

Martineztown is at the crossroads between El Camino and Tijeras Canyon in Albuquerque, New Mexico. Founded in the 1820s as a stop on El Camino Real de Tierra Adentro.

MANAGED BY:

City of Albuequrque

Amenities

1 listed

Historical/Interpretive Information/Exhibits

Martineztown has always been at a crossroads, literally and figuratively. It is located at the historic crossroads of El Camino Real de Tierra Adentro and Tijeras Canyon in Albuquerque, New Mexico. These paths were originally used by Indigenous groups for trade and movement across territories, and eventually evolved into El Camino Real de Tierra Adentro, and more recently, Interstate 25. The neighborhood was also at the crossroads of tradition and urban development as the eastern gateway to downtown Albuquerque. When outside forces tried to condemn this historic neighborhood, its citizens would not stand by and allow it to be razed. 

Martineztown is a close-knit neighborhood just east of downtown Albuquerque. It represents a piece of history in the center of urban development that continues to evolve around this historic neighborhood. Martineztown can trace its roots to the early 1800s as a popular summer pastureland. It continued to grow in the 1820s as a stop for traders and travelers along El Camino Real. It blossomed at the crossroads of trade, agriculture, and commerce. The acequia, or community irrigation ditch, was constructed in 1832 to bring water from the Rio Grande to help this growing community. In the latter half of the nineteenth century, many residents were employed in constructing the railroad in Albuquerque. When the Santa Fe Railroad connection was completed in 1880, El Camino became obsolete, and the railroad downsized its work force. This led to an economic decline for the residents of Martineztown.  

In the late 1950s and early 1960s, the Pan American Highway and Interstate 25 were built on the periphery of Martineztown, which led to this neighborhood being zoned for commercial use. This allowed the City of Albuquerque to construct a new city hall and convention center but made residential loans and permits inaccessible to residents, permanently changing the status of this historic neighborhood. In 1970, the City’s Urban Renewal condemned Martineztown as a “blighted slum and substandard neighborhood.” But the proud residents of Martineztown would not sit by and allow their home to be destroyed; they organized and protested the Urban Renewal Condemnation. They established the Citizens Information Committee of Martineztown (CICM) and turned the Condemnation into a redevelopment opportunity with help from the Design Planning Assistance Center at the University of New Mexico. With CICM’s commitment and continued community support, Martineztown adapted again and, as a result, remains a gateway to downtown Albuquerque while maintaining its historic residential roots. 

Site Information

Location (35.086, -106.641) Access Martineztown Park at the corner of Edith Blvd NE and Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. Blvd, near Downtown Albuquerque, New Mexico. 
Martineztown Park has historic markers, a playground, and a retracement of El Camino Real. Walk North along Edith Blvd and then East along Roma to follow the trail. 
Safety Considerations

Martineztown Walking Tour

Exhibit Audio Descriptions

El Camino Real de Tierro Adentro National Historic Trail

Duration:

1 minute, 38 seconds

Retrace the same route taken by trail travelers following El Camino Real de Tierra Adentro as they made the 1,600-mile journey linking Mexico City to Santa Fe. This two-block walkway has mile markers, mosaics, planting, monument, and even a playground that are representative of the long trek along “The Royal Road of the Interior Land. Interpretive signs will tell the trails long history. Want a guided tour? Follow the Walking Tour on your mobile device through the NPS App. Go.nps.gov/martineztown.

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