We got an early start on Friday night and camped about 20 miles south of Winslow, AZ. On Saturday morning upon arriving in Winslow we explored the town and cruised Historic Route 66.
As seen from I-40, this little old town in the middle of nowhere doesn’t seem like much and many people just pass it by. But if you get off the freeway and take a closer look, you will find that Winslow is a wonderful destination in itself! In true Route 66 tradition, the town maintains several unique roadside attractions that are well worth putting this charming place “back on the map.”
▪ Standin’ on the Corner Park has become a draw for music fans who remember the line “standin’ on the corner in Winslow Arizona, such a fine sight to see” from the Eagles’ hit song Take It Easy.
▪ Route 66 fans will enjoy Winslow’s historic downtown business district located right on the Mother Road. Shops and museums offer Route 66 and railroad memorabilia. As one of the major hubs of the Burlington Northern Santa Fe Railroad, train enthusiasts can see the locomotives roar into town. While we were there, we got to hear an engine start up right next to us and watch the train as it slowly crawled away. The track runs parallel with the main street, so there are many vantage points from which to stop and look.
▪ La Posada, a grand hotel designed by renowned Southwest architect Mary Colter, is the last Fred Harvey Hotel surviving in the West. It’s located in downtown Winslow right next to the tracks, a throwback to the days of transcontinental rail travel. All passenger trains running between Los Angeles and Chicago stopped at La Posada in the 1930’s and 1940’s. It closed in 1957 but in 1997 the hotel was restored to its former elegance.
▪ The First Street Pathway links two important historical sites in downtown Winslow: the Hubbell Trading Post (Winslow’s new Visitor Center) and La Posada Hotel. The landscaped pathway is six blocks long and has displays the represent Winslow’s diverse history. Pretty neat!
▪ Old Trails Historical Museum is another location that will interest history buffs. It opened in 1985 in an old downtown bank building constructed in 1920. It still has the original tile floor, marble counters, and vault.
▪ If you don’t stop in Winslow for anything else, the 9-11 Remembrance Garden is a must-see. How could there be a memorial of this magnitude in Arizona without me having heard about it??? It consists of two rusted steel girders from the World Trade Center towers, a flag that was flown at the Pentagon, and a commemorative bronze plaque. The 14 and 15 foot beams are the largest pieces given to any community in the nation by the City of New York, and amazingly they’re displayed right here in Winslow. This was a totally unexpected, emotionally stirring, and quite fitting monument to discover on Memorial Day weekend. The Remembrance Garden is located on the corner of a vacant lot at East 3rd Street and Transcon Lane, right across from the railroad tracks. (From I-40, take exit 255.)
Labels: 9-11, history, Route 66, Winslow
