A.T. Hannett, mayor of Gallup from 1918-1922, then State Governor from 1925-1927, was the area's largest advocate for the State and Federal Highway commissions to designate what was known as the "Old Trails Highway" as Route 66. Gallup succeeded in convinging the State and Feds that our highly publicized automobile challenge races made us the best through way headed to California, beating out Soccoroand Magelina. Hannett's last act as Governor was rerouting the still unidentified highway through Albuquerque on Central Avenue, straight over the hills to Laguna, which would then be re-routed again 10 years later, then again by later governors. The "66" designation was assigned opened on November 11, 1926. It starts in Chicago and ends in Los Angeles, covering over 2,400 miles and eight states. On April 15, 1927, the nation learned the new highway Route 66 into Gallup itself was a reality. Paving of the highway commenced in the 1930s, and the date on this plaque commemorates the paving of the road in Gallup. This was the first paved highway in New Mexico.