US Route 66-Sixth Street Historic District
Also known as: Fifth Street; Ozark Trail; Sixth Avenue; Will Rogers Memorial H
Why it's listed
Sixth Avenue, locally called Sixth Street, runs through the San Jacinto Heights Addition west of downtown Amarillo, and a 13-block stretch of it forms a historic district tied to U.S. Route 66. The street was platted in 1909 but saw little building until gravel paving in 1921 improved the Ozark Trail route. After Route 66 was designated in 1926, shops, service stations, cafes and bungalows went up to serve both neighborhood residents and travelers. Most buildings are modest one-part commercial blocks, with Spanish Colonial Revival, Art Deco and Art Moderne details. A 1942 street widening altered some storefronts, and the highway moved off the street in 1953. Of 116 resources, 83 contribute to the district, including the roadway, Depression-era sidewalks and a hanging traffic light. It was recognized as Amarillo's most intact collection of buildings associated with the highway, with a period of significance of 1921 to 1953.
Significance in brief: The district is described as Amarillo's most intact collection of commercial buildings tied to U.S. Route 66. Gravel paving in 1921 and the 1926 Route 66 designation spurred commercial growth that continued until the highway moved off the street in 1953. It is significant at the state level for Transportation and Community Planning and Development, and for its distinctive urban form.
Machine-generated summary. This summary was generated by a language model from the official nomination document and has not been reviewed line by line by an editor. It may contain errors. Check the source document before relying on any detail. Source: nomination document (PDF) · National Archives catalog entry. NRHP reference 94000982, listed August 23, 1994. Summary generated October 2026 (model claude-sonnet-5-5, prompt v1.0-2026-10-29, confidence high).
Key facts
| Address | Sixth Ave. between Georgia and Forrest Aves., Amarillo |
|---|---|
| County | Potter County |
| Listed | August 23, 1994 |
| Reference number | 94000982 |
| Resource type | District |
| Period of significance | 1921-1953 |
| Architect / builder | Carlander, Guy Anton (architect); Randall, Albert (builder) |
| Architectural style | Other: One-part Commercial Block; Late 19th and 20th Century Revivals; Modern Movement |
| Criteria |
|
| Areas of significance | Transportation, Community Planning and Development |
| Level of significance | State |
| Status (as stated in the nomination) | Many buildings remain in commercial or residential use; revitalization and restoration work since a 1989 study has returned some buildings to a historic appearance. |
| Acreage | 40 |
| Coordinates | 35.21143, -101.87409 (NPS GIS) |
What listing means for this property
This is a historic district. Buildings within its boundary are either contributing (they add to the district's significance) or non-contributing. Owners of contributing income-producing buildings can claim the 20% federal rehabilitation tax credit; homeowners should look at state credits. National Register districts impose no design review by themselves; a local historic district ordinance, if one exists, does (the difference explained).
General information, not legal or tax advice. Rules change; confirm with your State Historic Preservation Office or a qualified adviser.
Sources and further reading
- National Park Service, National Register of Historic Places database (snapshot May 2026), reference 94000982.
- Nomination form (PDF, National Archives) — catalog entry
- Wikidata Q109999541
- This listing as JSON
Last updated October 2026. Found an error? See the editorial policy for how to report it.