More About Kingman

Before I write a word about Kingman, I want to welcome some new followers: Heckle, and Mark and Chris. It's always nice to see new names on the list, and we hope to see your name on a comment or two!

Also before Kingman, I gotta talk about our weather here in SE Arizona. Yeah, it gets a little warm in summer, but we had the greatest monsoon season in a long time, lots of rain (one especially damaging storm, but we weren't here to see it), and the desert has greened up nicely. Now we are into a fall season, and that doesn't happen every year. Usually we go from summer straight to winter. Right now we are having highs in the mid-80s, and here that's very comfortable, nighttime lows around 50, which is great sleeping weather. A little rain, but most of that comes at night. We love it.

NOW - Kingman. We visited the Powerhouse, a Route 66 museum on two floors. Very accomodatinly, they provide an elevator for those not fortunate enough to be able to negotiate steps. The elevator even accomodated Suzy's Big Red go-cart.

From 2010 Kingman, AZ

The Powerhouse was built in 1907, and in its short 29 year period of service, it proved to be the primary influence in bringing Kingman and Mohave county into the 20th century with its power. Mining flourished, and the surrounding area began to "see the light."

From 2010 Kingman, AZ

Here I'm standing waiting for the next show in the "cinema." It was actually a very poorly made documetary about Old Route 66.

One of the main features of the museum is a display of the hordes of "Okies" and other folks fleeing the midwest's terrible drought in the 1930 era. John Steinbeck chronicled the time in his Grapes of Wrath, a definite classic of American literature.

From 2010 Kingman, AZ

From 2010 Kingman, AZ

From 2010 Kingman, AZ

From 2010 Kingman, AZ

We felt this manikin clearly showed the desperation and despair so many of the travelers must have felt. From 2010 Kingman, AZ

The museum also dealt with the earliest residents and the pioneers coming across country on the trail that eventually became the Mother Road, US Route 66.

From 2010 Kingman, AZ

From 2010 Kingman, AZ

From 2010 Kingman, AZ

And of course, the glory days of the automobile.

Notice the out-the-window air conditioner on this Studebaker! From 2010 Kingman, AZ

From 2010 Kingman, AZ

The always popular Burma-Shave signs. From 2010 Kingman, AZ

Across the street from the Powerhouse was this old locomotive, one of the last of its kind.

From 2010 Kingman, AZ

And catching the flavor of Route 66 was this mural on the side wall of a store.

From 2010 Kingman, AZ

There is much to see and do in the little towns along ... Our Life on Wheels!