Route 66: Winslow, Arizona

In the high-desert region of Navajo County in northern Arizona, there is a small quiet town called Winslow.  It was once a thriving community along Route 66, but today it might be missed in the blink of an eye by the average traveler driving along Interstate 40.  However, for the nostalgic traveler, Winslow holds a grand history and many treasured remnants from its glorious past. 

Winslow, Arizona was founded in the early 1880s as a divisional terminal for the Atlantic & Pacific Railroad to serve as an operating headquarter and maintenance center for the growing railroad industry.  In 1930, the town celebrated the opening of La Posada, a beautiful hacienda style luxury hotel that was designed by Mary Coulter and built by Fred Harvey for the Santa Fe Railway to serve the surge of train passengers traveling to the Southwest.  In the same decade, America celebrated the opening of U.S Route 66 that connected Illinois to California. The new highway transformed how Americans traveled and fueled the rise of roadside motels, diners and suburban expansion.  From 1964 to 1971, Winslow's famous 50,000-year-old celestial landmark, the Meteor Crater, was the training center for the Apollo astronauts who traveled to the moon.  Then in 1972 the legendary music group, the Eagles, immortalized the corner of Winslow, Arizona in rock-and-roll history with their song "Take It Easy".

But, as the saying goes, "nothing stays the same forever" and the following events led to the slow economic decline of Winslow. First, train travel began to decline in the 1950s which led to the closure of La Posada in 1957. Twenty years later, the construction of the new multi-lane highway, Interstate 40, caused traffic to bypass Route 66, which had been the main thoroughfare through Winslow, cutting off the steady stream of travelers that had once supported the local businesses.  

Still, the remnants of Winslow's rich history are evident throughout the town and Winslow perfectly encapsulates the nostalgic charm of historic Route 66 and the golden age of American train travel. 

Route 66 on the corner of Winslow, Arizona.

Standin' on the Corner Park opened in 1999 and includes statues of Jackson Browne and Glenn Frey who wrote the song "Take It Easy". 

The historic Route 66 was the main road through downtown Winslow, Arizona. 

La Posada opened in 1930 to serve the surge of railroad passengers traveling to the Southwest.

It was re-opened in 1997 after an extensive restoration by Allen Affeldt and Tina Mion. 

It was designed by architect Mary Coulter and built by Fred Harvey for the Santa Fe Railway.

It resembles a Spanish hacienda with beautiful gardens and enchanting walkways.

The original train depot and ticketing office built in 1929 is still active and services Amtrak passengers. 

The train stopped next to La Posada Hotel...

...where passengers could disembark and walk to the grand hotel.

The interior was meticulously restored to the original Spanish Colonial Revival style. 

The restoration included replacing lost or damage ceramic tiles and wrought iron banisters...

...and removing suspended drop ceilings which had been installed in the 1960s when the hotel was used as an office building for the Santa Fe Railway. 

La Posada was meticulously restored into a grand hotel. 

The Winslow-Lindbergh Regional Airport was selected by Charles Lindbergh as a key refueling spot for the first transcontinental air passenger service.

The historic Adobe-inspired Winslow Post Office has been in continuous use since 1935. 

Many buildings and homes were built with red brick because the material was strong, durable, and fire resistant.

The unique deep red color in the bricks is due to the local Arizona clay which is rich in iron.  

Arizona clay turns red, when fired in a kiln, as the oxygen reacts with the iron-rich clay.

The historic Winslow High School was built in 1929 and served as the town's high school until 2004.

On the outskirts of the town stand decaying and weathered monuments...

...that at one time thrived on Route 66.

But the oldest monument in Winslow is the Meteor Crater, the site where a meteorite hit the earth 50,000 years ago.

It was a training site for the Apollo astronauts. 

Due to its remote and isolated location, the Meteor Crater Museum has residential housing for employees.

A segment of the old Route 66 parallel to Interstate 40.  While it may be the end of the road, it is not the end of the journey. Route 66 still offers a nostalgic treasure hunt for adventure seekers.