Route 66-Seligman to Kingman

   After leaving Seligman we headed off the pavement to camp on Arizona Trust Land. Camping is allowed for up to 14 days at a time and a permit is required. The permit is $15.00 a year so it’s a good deal but the permit can only be obtained through the mail. We didn’t have one and risked getting fined. This spot is a few miles in on Pico Road and has a nice view of the mountains. It’s been fairly heavily used but is completely free of trash and litter.

  The Grand Canyon Caverns, which have been opened to tour for 80 years, are the largest dry caverns in the US.

  The grounds are decorated with old cars and dinosaur sculptures.
        
        
    New owners were fixing up the Frontier Motel but it looked deserted when we passed by.

  This 1903 school house is a remnant of the sad practice of removing Native American children from their families. It was believed that the children would be better off if they learned to speak English and were taught a trade. The schools were often far from the children's’ homes and they would not see anyone from their families for years at a time.

  Another restored but non-operating gas station.
         
  Hackberry started as a mining town in the late 1800s, became a tourist stop along Route 66 and a near ghost town when the interstate bypassed it. The Hackberry General Store, however, has become a famous landmark along the road. Bob Waldmire reopened it in 1992 as a souvenir shop and visitor center. It’s been owned and operated by John and Kerry Pritchard since 1998.

  There’s a lot of great old stuff to look at both inside and outside.

  The Giganticus Headicus sits in a little art park beside the old Ranchero Motel.

  Route 66 runs straight through the heart of Kingman.

  Some more wonderful old neon signs. El Trovatore Motel was built in 1939.
            
  The Hill Top didn’t come along until 1954.
             
  Two very good, small museums are located in Kingman. We visited them last spring so I’m reposting.

  Kingman, Arizona was one of the last cities to be bypassed when I-40 was completed in the 1980s. The Route 66 Museum follows the history of the road from Indian trails, to wagon road, to paved highway. The dust bowl refugee display is especially interesting.

  Everything is accessible. A museum employee must unlock a door to provide wheelchair access to a section on the second floor.

The parking lot is big enough for any RV.

  The Mohave Museum focuses on the Native Americans who lived and hunted near Kingman, the conflicts that arose from prospectors seeking gold and the growth of mining and ranching in the area.
   The interior of the museum is accessible. A few small buildings and a caboose are located in the outside display. Most of these are not accessible. The ramp to get back inside does not have a flat landing and the door opens outward, making it very difficult to use without help.

  The parking lot is large enough for any RV.
        
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