Downtown Albuquerque and UNM Area Map Search

About Downtown / UNM Albuquerque, New Mexico:

Old Town is the heart of Albuquerque’s heritage. The first Spanish families settled near the banks of the Rio Grande in 1706. Much of the architecture of Old Town is Pueblo-Spanish, or adobe. Adobe buildings are constructed of adobe bricks (which are mostly composed of mud and straw) that are sunbaked, mortared with mud and protected with a layer of mud or cement. They are traditionally flat roofed, with curved edges, often supported with vigas (wooden beams supporting the roof) visible in the ceiling or protruding through walls. With the arrival of the railroad in 1880, many new building components became available. You will find several different styles of architecture, including Victorian and Contemporary.

Thousands of visitors and residents alike come to Old Town on Christmas Eve & during the Holiday Stroll (first Friday in December) to see the spectacular display of luminarias. Candles are set in a bed of sand inside the bottom of a paper bag. When lit they create a golden glow. Luminarias are set out to light the way for the Christ Child, and thousands of luminarias line the Church, Plaza, streets and walkways of Old Town.

Downtown Albuquerque is the largest business center in New Mexico. Most of the City of Albuquerque and Bernalillo County Government offices are in Downtown Albuquerque, as well as the Albuquerque Convention Center complex and many large local and national companies which have their headquarters downtown. Downtown Albuquerque also has a vibrant entertainment district and is home to many diverse live music venues and clubs. The Nob Hill / Highland district, by the University of New Mexico is a hip and progressive community with a great shopping district with many local business, shops, antique stores, and some of the best restaurants in Albuquerque. Just what you would expect by a College with 26,000 students. I think of this part of town as the “Heart & Soul of Albuquerque”. In the Downtown/UNM area of Albuquerque you will find some really great facilities and points of interest. There are so many in this part of town it