Historic Walking Tour
Mohave Museum of History & Arts: This museum offers a good introduction to the history of Northwestern Arizona. Dioramas & murals show development from prehistoric times to the present. You’ll even find a special exhibit on Andy Devine, local-boy-turned-movie-star. Outdoor exhibits display ranching, mining machinery plus a 1923 railroad caboose. History buffs can dig into the museum’s library. The Museum is open Tuesday to Saturday 9 am – 4 pm with the last entry at 3:30 pm. The Research Facility is open Wednesday & Thursday 9 am – 3:00 pm. Both the museum and the library are closed weekends and major Holidays. The Mohave Museum is located at 400 W. Beale Street.
Metcalfe Park: Named for Charles Metcalfe, a civic leader and early developer. This shady park has a picnic area, playground, stage area and restrooms. You’ll find it at Grandview Ave. & Beale Steet.
Mohave Union High School Gymnasium*: The Mohave Union High School Gymnasium was built in 1936 for $50,000. The Kingman High School later used it as the girls’ gym until 1994 when the Kingman Boys and Girls Club made it their home. You’ll find it at 1st and Oak Streets.
Santa Fe Locomotive #3759 in Locomotive Park*: Built in 1928, Santa Fe Locomotive #3759 ran passengers between Los Angeles and Kansas City for over 20 years and traveled more than 2.5 million miles. The engine was given to the city of Kingman in 1957. In 1987 1,200 residents used rope to pull the locomotive forward, so a Santa Fe caboose would fit behind it. You’ll find it at Beale Street and Andy Devine Ave. (Route 66).
Powerhouse*: The main building was built between 1907 and 1909 for nearly $300,000, with additions built in 1911. It supplied power to Kingman and area mines until Hoover Dam began producing power in the late 1930’s. Sixty years later, the building was restored as a historical asset and the Kingman Visitor Information Center moved to the building in 1997. Other uses include the Arizona Route 66 Museum, Route 66 Electric Vehcile Museum (new in 2014), Memory Lane Gift Shop (operated by the Historic Route 66 Association of Arizona), Grand Canyon West Information Center, and Bob Boze Bell ‘The 66 Kid’ Exhibition (new in 2014). Walls are the Carlos Elmer (Arizona Highways photographer) Gallery. Visitor Center hours are 8 am – 5 pm daily, Route 66 Museums and Memory Lane Gift Shop hours are 9am – 5pm daily. Closed New Year’s Day, Easter, Thanksgiving and Christmas Day. You’ll find it at 120 W. Andy Devine Ave. (Route 66).
Hotel Brunswick*: The hotel opened its doors in 1909. It was Kingman’s first three-story building constructed of local Tufa stone. It is currently under renovation, with plans to open a restaurant, hotel, ice cream parlor and bakery. You’ll find it at 315 E. Andy Devine Ave. (Route 66). Not open to the public.
Hotel Beale*: Built in 1900 and purchased by Tom Devine, father of actor Andy Devine, in 1906. You’ll find it in the 300 block of E. Andy Devine Ave. (Route 66).
Railroad Depot*: Built in 1907, this was Kingman’s third depot at this location. The first was built in 1885 and destroyed by fire in 1900 and the second 1900-1906. The building currently houses the Kingman Railroad Museum and an Amtrak passenger waiting area. You’ll find it at 4th and Andy Devine Ave. (Route 66). Next to the depot are Kingman’s historic water tanks which were erected by the Santa Fe Railroad in 1910 for the use of their trains. Around 1950, the tanks were handed over to the City of Kingman for use as water storage for fire-fighting. Today the tanks sit empty, satisfying only the thirst of travelers looking for a great picture!
Central Commercial Company*: “America’s Most Amazing Country Store” (1917-1978) was the original location of a livery stable and feed yard. Restored in 2008, The Building received a Governor’s Heritage Preservation Honor Award. It now houses multiple businesses including a coffee shop, wine bar and restaurant. You’ll find it at 4th and Beale Streets.
W. A. Gruninger Building*: Built in 1921 as an investment property by Gruninger & Son, the building had store space on the first floor for rent and office space on the second floor. The City of Kingman 50th Anniversary Seal (2003) is painted on the west side of the building. You’ll find it at 424 E. Beale Street.
Masonic Temple*: Built in 1939, the structure was the second Works Progress Administration (WPA) project in Kingman. It is now used for office space. You’ll find it at 212 North Fourth Street.
U.S. Post Office*: The U. S. Post Office was built in 1935 as Kingman’s first standalone office. Today it is used by the City of Kingman Engineering Department for office space. You’ll find it at 310 North Fourth Street.
Little Red School House*: Built in 1896, the Little Red Schoolhouse replaced Kingman’s first schoolhouse. The red brick structure was built in the late Victorian Style and is the only pre-1900 public building in extant. It is currently used as the City Court. You’ll find it at the SW corner of 4th and Oak Streets.
Former Elks Lodge-Kingman #468*: The Elks Lodge founded in 1899 and formally dedicated in 1904 was built of locally quarried stone. It is currently privately owned. You’ll find it at the SW corner of 4th and Oak Streets.
Mohave County Courthouse*: The courthouse was built in 1915 at a cost of $80,000. It is constructed of Tufa stone similar to that used in other buildings of the same period. The Original County Jail, built 1909-1910, is east of the courthouse and was reportedly replaced because it was too easy to break free from the old structure. You’ll find it on Spring Street at the end of 4th Street.
St. Mary’s Catholic Church*: The new building was built in 1967. The original rock church currently a museum & gift shop was built in 1907. You’ll find it at 3rd and Spring Streets.
Palo Christi School*: 1928 Kingman Grammar School (renamed Palo Christi Elementary in the 1960s) opened its doors replacing the “Little Red Schoolhouse.” It is currently unused. You’ll find it at 500 E. Maple Street.
W. G. Blakely House*: The original adobe house built in 1887, by Judge William G. Blakely is still in use. Kingman’s Superior Court Judge Elmer lived here for many years. It is currently privately owned and not open to the public. You’ll find it at 5th and Spring Streets.
Bonelli House*: The Bonelli House was built in 1915. It was the second home of the Bonelli Family built on the same site, after the original frame house dating from 1894 burned. Currently owned and maintained by the City of Kingman. Open Monday to Friday 11 am – 3 pm with the last tour at 2:30 pm. Closed weekends and major Holidays. You’ll find it at 430 E. Spring Street.
St. Johns United Methodist Church*: This church was built in 1917, of local Tufa Stone after the original wood church building (dating to 1889) was removed from the site to make room for the new stone church. The wooden structure was moved down to the eastern end of Spring Street and became a lodging house called the Church Apartments. The church’s original pipe organ (built in 1926) can be seen in Mohave Museum of History & Arts. On March 29, 1939, Clark Gable and Carole Lombard were married there. It is currently the home of the Mohave County Offices. You’ll find it at 5th at Spring Streets.
Historic Mesquite Tree: Okay, admittedly, this listing is a little strange. But, this tree is possibly the oldest living thing in Kingman, this mesquite tree of more than 200 years in age now has braces to hold its ancient branches in place. Up until the late 1880’s the historic Kingman basin was a forest of mesquite trees. You’ll find it behind a law office at 5th and Oak Streets.
J. Duff Brown House*: Built in 1910, the house retains many of its original features. It is currently privately owned and not open to the public. You’ll find it at 541 Oak Street.
International Order of Odd Fellows (IOOF) Building*: The IOOF Hall was built in 1915 in Mission Revival style. The Odd Fellows building has had minimal alterations. It is currently privately owned. Next door to the North is The Original Kingman Firehouse. You’ll find it at 208 N. 5th Street.
W. H. Taggart Home*: Built in 1883, it is believed that this home is the oldest structure still standing in Kingman. It is still a private residence, not open to the public. You’ll find it at S.W. corner of 3rd Street and Topeka St.
Hubbs Home*: With a picnic area, playground, and basketball courts, the historic Hubbs Home was built in 1891 by Harvey Hubbs from adobe with clapboard siding unique to the area. It was restored with a Community Development Block grant of $104,000 received in 1997. Currently: Western Arizona Council of Government Head Start Program. You’ll find it at S. 4th Street and Golconda Ave.
Camp Beale’s Spring*: This spring bears the name of Lt. Edward Fitzgerald Beale, one of the earliest surveyors of the area, who came through in 1857 with a surveying team and a 33 camel caravan. Camp Beale’s Spring was established in 1871 and served as an Army Camp and, for a time, a reservation for the Hualapai Indians. You’ll find it on Fort Beale Drive, a right turn from Beale Street while heading West.
White Cliffs Wagon Trail: At White Cliffs you will see part of an old ore wagon route used in the late 1800’s to bring ore from the Stockton Hill mines to the railroad in Kingman. The wagon tracks have been cut deep into the stone and there are depressions along both sides of the roadbed, which were used for stubbing posts and ropes to help get the heavy wagons up and down the grade. Follow Grandview Ave., turn right onto Lead St. which turns into White Cliffs Rd., taking you directly to White Cliffs.
Former Air Force Radar Station: This is now called Radar Hill. The site is not accessible to visitors
Kingman Army Airfield: The Kingman Army Airfield was a B17 Gunnery Training School during World War II.* National Registry of Historic Places
(Added, Nov.2019) Cohenour House*: A classic bungalow style erected from rusticated concrete block, it was built for Mary Eleanor Cohenour in 1911 by Tarr, McComb & Ware. Mrs. Cohenour was the former wife of Jacob Neff Cohenour, Mohave County Sheriff and Postmaster during the 1880s. She sold the house in 1916. The most noted resident was Agnes Mae McMullen, the chief surgical nurse at Mohave County Hospital, formerly on West Beale Street. She passed in 2000 at 89 years of age. It remains a private residence and the current owners have made every effort to restore the house to its original essence. The house was added to the National Register of Historical Places in 1986. You’ll find it at Spring & First Streets (not currently on Walking Map).