New Mexico State Route 2001 and the New Mexico Museum of Space History

Back in 2012 I was working out Central New Mexico with great frequency. That being the case I had a chance to drive the oddly numbered New Mexico State Route 2001 to the New Mexico Museum of Space History.

NM 2001 is an extremely short State Route entirely located within the City of Alamogordo in Otero County. NM 2001 starts at Scenic Drive and ascends eastward into the foothills of the Sacramento Mountains. 0.3 miles to the New Mexico Museum of Space History. NM 2001 appeared at some point in the 1990s according to Steve Riner's New Mexico Highway Map and exists an orphan route not connecting to any other state highways. The number of "2001" is an obvious reference to the movie and novel of the same name.

Steve Riner on NM 2001

One thing I can confirm is that at least one NM 2001 shield was present in 2012 but I didn't take a picture of it. Presently it is unclear if NM 2001 still exists as a highway, it is not referenced on the New Mexico Museum of Space History website tab for directions. NM 2001 does appear on topographical maps of Alamogordo as of 2013 which can be found on historicaerials.com

New Mexico Museum of Space History directions tab

The New Mexico Museum of Space History opened in 1976 and overlooks the Tulorosa Basin. The museum facilities are dedicated towards the role the state of New Mexico played in the development of U.S. based space flights. Despite being located in what is largely considered a somewhat back water city like Alamogordo the displays are quite elaborate and fully detailed. There is indoor and outdoor exhibits, many which display actual machinery and vehicle.

Comments

Abandoned US Route 40 in the Truckee River Canyon

Within the Truckee River Canyon in the Sierra Nevada range numerous abandoned portions of US Route 40 can be found alongside modern Interstate 80. This segment of highway was opened during 1926 as a bypass of the Dog Valley Grade which carried the early North Lincoln Highway and Victory Highway. The corridor of the Truckee River Canyon State Highway would be assigned as US Route 40 when the US Route System was commissioned during November 1926. During 1958 the segment of Interstate 80 between Boca, California and the Nevada state line was complete. When Interstate 80 opened east of Boca numerous obsolete portions of US Route 40 were abandoned. Some of these abandoned segments have been incorporated into the Tahoe-Pyramid Trail. Part 1; the history of US Route 40 in the Truckee River Canyon The Truckee River Canyon for centuries has been an established corridor of travel known to native tribes crossing the Sierra Nevada range. The first documented wagon crossi...

Former California State Route 41 past Bates Station

When California State Route 41 was commissioned during August 1934 it was aligned along the then existing Fresno-Yosemite Road north of the San Joaquin River. Within the Sierra Nevada foothills of Madera County, the original highway alignment ran past Bates Station via what is now Madera County Road 209, part of eastern Road 406 and Road 207. Bates Station was a stage station plotted during the early 1880s at what was the intersection of the Coarsegold Road and Stockton-Los Angeles Road. The modern alignment bypassing Bates Station to the east would be reopened to traffic during late 1939. Part 1; the history of California State Route 41 past Bates Station Bates Station was featured as one of the many 1875-1899 Madera County era towns in the May 21, 1968, Madera Tribune . Post Office Service at Bates Station is noted to have been established on November 23, 1883 and ran continuously until October 31, 1903. The postal name was sourced...

The William Flinn (not Flynn) Highway - Pittsburgh's Misspelled Street

For decades if you traveled along PA Route 8 in Pittsburgh's North Hills suburbs, you would have noticed signs that read "William Flynn Highway" at every intersection. Even today, many businesses and residences have their addresses listed as XXXX William Flynn Highway. However, it's not William Flynn Highway, it is William FLINN Highway - and the gentleman who it is named for has a long and storied past in Pittsburgh's infrastructure history. William Flinn was born in England in 1851; however later that year, his family emigrated to the United States and would settle in Pittsburgh. A 10-year-old school dropout, Flinn grew interested in politics and would join the Allegheny County Republican Party in 1877 as a ward commissioner and a seat on the Board of Fire Commissioners. Flinn would serve in the Pennsylvania State House of Representatives and Senate from 1877 to 1902. (1) Flinn along with James J. Booth would found the Booth and Flinn construction firm ...

Gribblenation

Search This Blog