Aztec Motel, Seligman by junge1
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Description
The Aztec Motel in Seligman, Arizona is located along the historic U.S. Route 66.
U.S. Route 66, also known as the 'Will Rogers Highway' after the humorist, and often colloquially known as the 'Main Street of America', the 'Mother Road', or the 'Most Famous Road in the World'.
U.S. Route 66 was established on November 11, 1926 and it became one of the most famous highways in America. It ran originally from Chicago, Illinois, through Missouri, Kansas, Oklahoma, Texas, New Mexico, Arizona, and California before ending at Los Angeles, covering a total of 2,448 miles (3,939km). It became the first highway to be completely paved in 1938.
The route went through many small towns and cities attracting mom and pop businesses such as service stations, restaurants, and motor courts (motels). It marked the birth of the fast-food industry. Red's Giant Hamburg in Springfield, Missouri; site of the first drive-through restaurant and the first McDonald's in San Bernadino, California.
During the Dust Bowl days of the 1930s it was used by people from Oklahoma, Arkansas, Kansas, and Texas who moved out West to California to begin a new life. This movement was made famous by John Steinbeck's novel the 'Grapes of Wrath' and the subsequent 1940 movie of the same title, directed by John Ford starring Henry Fonda, chronicling the hardships endured by these people, often referred to as 'Oakies' and 'Arkies', during their trip along U.S. Route 66, and their difficult migrant status in the agricultural sector of the labor movement in California.
U. S. Route 66 had a second influx of major movement during WWII when defense related industry in California attracted many people from the east.
In the 1950s Route 66 became the main highway for vacationers heading to Los Angeles. In Arizona the route passed through the Painted Desert, and near the Grand Canyon and Meteor Crater (Wikipedia).
With the construction of the Interstate Highway System, traffic gradually shifted away from the old route and with it, business. U.S. Route 66 was officially removed from the United States Highway System on June 27, 1985.
In Arizona there is evidence of U.S. Route 66 in Holbrook, Winslow, Flagstaff, Williams, Ashfork, Seligman, and Kingman. However, when west-bound on I-40 at exit 139, just west of Ashfork, there begins a contiguous stretch of the Historic Route 66, well-maintained, that goes through Seligman, Peach Springs to Kingman. Along that section are occasional abandoned service stations, restaurants, motels, and old cars that are remnants of the old days.
This picture was taken on 8 October 2011,
Sig...
Comments (22)
flaviok
Fascinante captura meu amigo, aplausos (5)
Bossie_Boots
Excellent capture !!
jocko500
I remember riding on it with richardphoto. it is a wonderful old road. i like old roads
drifterlee
Cool old road. I was on it years ago.
West_coaster07
Very nice capture!
nefertiabet
Klasse Foto!!!
bobrgallegos
Wonderful capture of days gone by!!!! Awesome narrative!!
Richardphotos
my first time to transverse route 66 was in the mid 60's on my way to San Jose.from an Okie country boy, it was one heck of an experience.the farthest I had been before was just over into Arkansas.outstanding subject and capture in 2001 was the best trip on 66 when I drove home the BMW that I won in Las Vegas with $1.50
kgb224
Stunning capture my friend. God Bless.
flora-crassella
ah! I see Marilyn Monroe is also here! Very nice image!!!!
jayfar
Super shot, I like the fact that the horses hitching posts are still there.
farmerC
Shining.
bazza
Great shot and info Sig that's one long road!!
emmecielle
Wonderful shot and info! :)
Faemike55
Great capture and wonderful & fascinating information, Sig Thanks for sharing
sandra46
VERY ROMANTIC, I REMEMBER IT
Minda
Great info and Very nice shot sig...
auntietk
Oh gosh, I know that place. It's right where the road makes a big bend through town. We stayed at the KOA in Seligman both outbound and inbound on our Spring trip to Arizona. Thanks for the memory, my dear! This is an outstanding shot!
flavia49
fantastic capture!
mariogiannecchini
Wonderful shot and info!
danapommet
Your narrative exceeded the photo and the photo could have been from the 1930s except for that car. Nicely done my friend.
bmac62
Outstanding! In 1962 (49 years ago) I was commissioned as a 2nd LT and assigned to Fort Irwin, CA. I put my uniforms and a few other things in my 1962 Austin Healy and headed west from Long Island, New York...I drove the length of the Pennsylvania Turnpike and picked up Route 66 in Missouri and followed it all the way to Barstow, CA where a right turn and a 37 mile drive out in the desert brought me to Fort Irwin. But I remember all of Route 66...all the old motels, gas stations and fast food joints. Thanks for the nostalgia blast:))