The Small Town Along Route 66 In Arizona With A Story That Will Fascinate You
By Monica Spencer|Published July 17, 2017
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Monica Spencer
Author
Monica is a Diné (Navajo) freelance writer and photographer based in the Southwest. Born in Gallup and raised in Phoenix, she is Tódich'ii'nii (Bitter Water People) and Tsi'naajinii (Black Streak Wood People). Monica is a staff writer for Only In Your State, photo editor for The Mesa Legend, and previously a staff writer for The Navajo Post. You can reach her at monica.d.spencer@gmail.com.
Have a case of wanderlust flowing through your veins? If you’re looking for an opportunity to travel, a trip along Arizona’s historic Route 66 is the perfect excuse to hop in the car and head out on the open road! You’ll find some amazing little towns and attractions along the way, including…
This town has a history of transportation, making it the perfect stop on a road trip. A railroad town turned neon-glowing sight for travel weary eyes, Seligman has become more than just a town to pass through. These days, it is a must-see location on Arizona’s Historic Route 66 featuring eccentricity and Americana kitsch.
The area the town currently sits on is part of the Havasupai’s traditional homelands and was established as a railroad post in 1882. At this time, the town was known as Prescott Junction but was founded as Seligman in 1886. The town earned its name from a major railroad financier in New York and continued to grow as the railroad did.
In 1926, Route 66 ran through town, bringing waves of new tourists eager to try out their new cars on the open road. The period after World War II was especially rife with tourism and created out many of the iconic images we associate with the Mother Road today: neon signs, oddball attractions, and plenty of little places to spend a night before heading to the next town.
However, when the highway was replaced with Interstate 40, life changed for Seligman and many other Route 66 towns. The new highway allowed travelers to completely bypass towns in order to reach destinations faster, resulting in economic hardships for the town. To make matters worse, Seligman’s role as a passenger train stop came to an end in 1984 and the historic station was eventually closed and demolished.
Things were looking grim for Seligman but it’s not called the "Birthplace of Historic Route 66" for nothing! Residents of the small town came together to petition the state to designate the old highway as a historic route. Their efforts came through in 1987 when Arizona designated a portion of the road—running from Seligman to Kingman—as Historic Route 66.
These days, Seligman continues to live off that unique flavor you can only find on Route 66. Around town, you’ll find a strangely satisfying collection of shops, restaurants, and hotels that embrace the weird and unusual Places like The Rusty Bolt and Delgadillo’s Snow Cap Drive-In have eccentric displays like mannequins guarding the shop and a collection of old cars enticing travelers to stop by for a photo and a shake.
With the historic road still bringing in plenty of visitors into an otherwise quiet area of the state, Seligman is one place where nostalgia reigns supreme and where you can find a little piece of youth and home.
