Every now & then, we all haphazardly stumble
onto something extremely worthwhile, yet unexpected. Such was my
story when a few months ago, I was surfing E-Bay when I came across a
terrific find: a 1987 Arizona Highways reprint of the 1913 Arizona Good
Roads Association's Illustrated Road Maps and Tour Book.
Luckily, I won the bid and have since been pouring over the maps.
This book is just chock full of maps and pics
from the very first road surveying expedition undertaken in Arizona.
As such, it provides us an invaluable glimpse into the pre-history of
Route 66 and even the National Old Trails Road. I just had to share
them with everyone. I invite you, the inquisitive roadie, to peruse
these maps and wonder at the difficulties and perilous conditions that
must have been a part of every trip. Also, see how many landmarks
you recognize that remain to this day. There are a few!
Before we begin however, I'd like to thank the
staff of Arizona
Highways Magazine (particularly Books Editor Bob Albano) for
letting me post these maps on my web. PLEASE-these maps are strictly
for research/private viewing use only and are NOT to be reproduced/copied
or otherwise used for any 'for profit' means. Please respect the
wishes of Arizona Highways so we may continue to share these intriguing
glimpses into our past.
Viewing warning: These maps were
scanned at a very large resolution so that very small details can be
seen. Therefore, unless you are with a cable or DSL internet service
provider, the downloads will be VERY long with most maps ranging between 1
and 3.5 MEGS in size. But it's well worth the wait...Enjoy!
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Map 1: Gallup to Holbrook. Note that between
Gallup & Manuelita, this early road went north of the
mesas. Also, the old abandoned RR depot at Pinta is still
there (well, at least as of the Summer of 2005). |
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Map 2: Holbrook Detail. Note the Acme Building
and the garage-both of which I believe are still there. |
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Map 3: Holbrook to Tolchaco (NE of Flagstaff): Note
the pics of the bridge at Chevelon Creek and the tower at Leupp.
Also, note that the very next year (1914), our Padre Canyon Bridge
opened-dooming this routing to the mists of time... |
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Map 4: Winslow Detail. Note the Babbitt Brothers
building (#6). They were an industrious lot. |
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Map 5" Tolchaco to Flag to Williams. Note
the "new road across dry lake" and driving directions such
as "sign on big tree" and "house at turn"! |
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Map 6: Williams to Seligman. Note the tortuous
winding road between these two towns. The road that would
become Route 66 is described as "very bad road along
R.R.". And I can't imagine driving through a farm gate today... |
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Map 7: Seligman detail. Note the Harvey House
depicted on the map. |
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Map 8: Seligman to Kingman. Note the road
winding its way back and forth across the tracks between Seligman
and Peach Springs. Also Note the Indian School in Truxton and check
out the road winding its way around the mesa to come into downtown
Kingman from the SE. |
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Map 9: Kingman detail. The RR depot is still
there. |
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Map 9A: The Beale Hotel. We all know it is still
there. Not much has changed! |
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Map 9B: Kingman to Needles. Many pics of Oatman
I haven't seen before. And note that this very earliest of
roads veered west out of Oatman and came into the NE side of
Needles. |
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Map CA1: Needles detail. Impressive photo of the
Hotel Garces. Also note that vehicles had to be ferried across
the Colorado to Needles. |
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Map CA2: Needles to Ludlow. This old stretch
follows almost exactly the future route of 66! Goffs, Fenner,
Essex; Danby, Amboy, Bagdad and on Be sure to note only the
third pic I have ever seen of Bagdad. |
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Map CA3: Ludlow to Victorville. Again, paralleling
what would become 66, many of these scenes aren't that different
today. |
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Map CA4: Victorville to Los Angeles. This map
doesn't appear that different from the earliest Route 66 maps of the
area. It would probably be possible to put street names
on these maps with some effort... |
