Route 66 Gift Shop in Seligman, Arizona

Turn back the hands of time on “America’s Mother Road”
from Kingman to Seligman, Arizona

Last fall, we led a group of 44 RV’s on the Wild West Caravan, an RV adventure that most of the participants viewed as the “Caravan of a Lifetime”. On this epic RV excursion we travelled to many places in the Southwest part of the United States. Some of the roads we followed provided adventures of their own to the point where we wish we could have spent more time in these areas. Among the most notable segments of the Wild West Caravan was our tour of the famous Route 66, from Kingman to Seligman, Arizona – with the echoes of the popular hit song playing in our minds, we basked in the history of motorized travel along this distinctive stretch of the “Mother Road of the U.S.A”.
             
Route 66 was a legend when the 1950’s TV series hit the small screen (in black & white). George Maharis and Martin Milner toured the countryside, encountering the people and stories that made the American mosaic of the mid-20th century so interesting. As youngsters, we were mesmerized by their travels, retracing the route of the wagon trains in their Corvette convertible… it was, as reviewers described, “wagon train in a rag top”, and it represented the ultimate voyage of discovery in the American west.
           
We followed I-40 East to Kingman, Arizona where we started our adventure back in time. At exit 53 off of I-40, we stopped at the Flying J and fueled our motor home. As we turned out of the service center, we made a right turn onto Route 66. It was the best two-lane highway we had been on in quite a while. As we travelled the aging blacktop we saw places that had been abandoned for years, and others that were not only open, they appeared to have come right out of era when Route 66 was the symbol of pioneer adventures.
           
Today, Kingman, Arizona, and the surrounding area have a population of approximately 40,000 people. The first reference to Kingman is from the June 10, 1882 issue of “Alta Arizona”, a newspaper published in Mineral Park. “There is a new town on the tapis at or near Beale Springs”. In October 1882, “Alta Arizona” refers to the sampling works at Kingman, reporting that Middleton is to be hereafter named Kingman, where in November 1882, a rooming house, stores and other buildings were going to be constructed.
           
Kingman was named after Lewis Kingman, the locating engineer for the railroad, and the man responsible for selecting the location of the roadbed for the famous Santa Fe Railroad. Kingman, like a lot of towns along Route 66, owes its creation to the railroad.
           
As we continued east on Route 66 we came to Hackberry, established in 1874, to serve the prospectors who found a rich vein of ore. A large Hackberry tree grew by the spring and that landmark gave the town its name. When the railroad came through, the tracks were laid along the most direct route, resulting in a relocation of the town. The new town of Hackberry rose from the landscape four miles from the old town. In the days of the old west, Hackberry was home to plenty of shooting and fighting, as it was somewhat of a transient town. The old town of Hackberry lies across the tracks from Route 66, but the Hackberry General Store is right on the highway. The old vintage gas pumps and the 1957 Corvette beckons you to turn off the road to come in and look around.
           
Moving on east, we come across some ruins that are part of the community of Valentine. Originally called Truxton Canyon, this area was set-aside for the Hualapai Indians in 1900. The name of Valentine was chosen in honor of Robert G. Valentine, Commissioner of Indian Affairs from 1908 –1910. In 1900 an Indian School was built in Valentine to help the Hualapai Indians adjust to the White Man’s ways. Today, the school is closed but the historic site is the home of the Truxton Canyon Agency of the B.I.A.
           
A few more miles along Route 66 is the old town of Truxton, originally developed in 1951 around a gas station and cafe. The name of the town comes from the famous Beale Camel Expedition. Lieutenant "Ned" Beale stopped at the spring here in 1857 and named it Truxton in honor of either his brother Truxton or his mother, Emily Truxton Beale. When it was bypassed by the Interstate, Truxton became a mere shell of the town it once was.

The Frontier Motel and Restaurant in Truxton has seen a lot of action over the years. Until recently, the old neon sign and artwork was in need of repair. Using matching funds from the Route 66 Corridor Preservation Act administered by the National Park Service it has been repaired and painted and is a fine example of vintage Route 66 road art.

Just a drive along Route 66 from Truxton is a small town called Peach Springs.
In the early 1880s, the railroad established a water station on these lands and called it Peach Springs for the many peach trees found around the spring that fed their steam engines. The small settlement reportedly had ten saloons - but no churches or schools. In later years it would boast a roundhouse, several shops, a stagecoach line, and a Fred Harvey Restaurant.
           
By the time Route 66 came through, Peach Springs offered several cafes, motor courts and tourist businesses, all catering to the many travelers following the highway. Though little is left of Route 66 era landmarks, Peach Springs provides access to one of the last undeveloped sections of the Grand Canyon. Peach Springs is also the Tribal Headquarters for the Hualapai Indians.
           
Following Route 66 east, we arrived at Seligman; the birthplace of historic Route 66. A small, unincorporated town situated in the beautiful Upland Mountains, this is where you will find the real Route 66. A walk down the main street of Seligman is like a walk back in time. No pictures or description can do justice to this amazing little town. You have to see it with your own eyes. The Snow Cap Drive In, Route 66 Gift Shop, RoadKill 66 Café Steak House and the Copper Cart are just a few of the very distinctive business of Seligman.
           
We stayed at the Route 66 KOA Kampground just a mile east of Seligman, and only 108 miles from the Grand Canyon.

From Kingman to Seligman we traveled around 80 miles of “America’s Mother Road”, Route 66. Thanks to Angel Delgadillo and his wife Vilma, who worked hard to keep Route 66 alive for generations to come, Seligman is now known as “The Birthplace of Historic Route 66.

Route 66 was once a grand thoroughfare between Chicago and Los Angeles. The old highway “America’s Mother Road” was first opened in 1926. It is famous in particular for it’s role in the migration west during the Depression Era of the 30’s and the exploration of innumerable American families vacationing since the more prosperous post-war 50’s. Unfortunately, because of newer freeways like Interstate 40, Route 66 became outdated. Although, by-passed in large part by the newer Highways, the unique history recalled by the stretches of Route 66 still remain and has stimulated a renewed interest throughout North America.

RV’ers are always looking for a new adventure. Why not take the family on a trip back in time, and chart your course for a fascinating holiday along the historic highway that carries the proud badge of Route 66.

Take care & happy RVing
M.B. & Karen Wilson
Wagon Masters
E-Mail  wagontrains@msn.com

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