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Exit 48 is a major interchange; it is the gateway to Las Vegas and Hoover Dam
via US-93. Mostly 4-lane and an excellent highway,
the traffic flows well even though it is usually very heavy.
Note: If
you don’t know for sure you have enough fuel to reach Flagstaff, fill
up here at this exit. The prices between here and Flagstaff are enough
to give you a coronary! This is also an excellent place to take a
breather and enjoy a leisurely meal. There is an especially good Chinese
restaurant just north of the interchange (on the left about across from
the Texaco station – which may be a Shell by now). It is dangerous to
call out names of businesses – they change so quickly.
Visitors'
Center - From I-40 take exit 48 and turn east (to the right if
you're eastbound on I-40) on I-40-Business. Six blocks from the exit (at
the Sheriff's Station) I-40-Business and US-93 split. Stay to the right
and continue on I-40-Business. This is (what used to be) the famous
Route 66. The Tourist Information and Visitor Center is just ahead to
the right in the old Powerhouse at 120 W. Route 66.
For more information phone 1-866-427-7866 (toll free).
Kingman
Powerhouse
- Placed in service in 1907 to generate electrical power
for the city of Kingman. It also supplied the area mines with power to
operate their hoists and pumps. Completion of the Hoover Dam in 1938
'pulled the plug' on the local generating station. It did remain in
service for a few more years as a substation but technological advances
made that impractical, also.
Rescued by a group of concerned citizens, the old Powerhouse has
been converted into a busy Visitors' Center and houses a number of other
historic-centered organizations.
For more
information phone 1-866-427-7866 (toll free). Web site:
KingmanPowerhouse.
Locomotive Park
- Here, also at the old Powerhouse, famed steam locomotive #3759 awaits
your inspection. Designed as a coal burning engine, it was converted to
burn oil in 1941. It was the last of the big steam engines to traverse
the Santa Fe line to Kingman. It was finally taken out of service and
presented to the city in 1957. Old #3759 was joined by a brightly
decorated caboose in 1987. Don't you know someone who would love to see
them?
For more information phone 1-866-427-7866 (toll free). Web site: LocomotivePark.
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Route 66 Museum
- This 'Route 66' Museum is housed in the old Powerhouse. Kingman is in
the “heart” of the longest (remaining) stretch of the 2400 mile-long
US-66 that is now one of America's legends. Here you can view displays
from photos to life-sized dioramas depicting the travel and travelers
along this road which was so important in its day.
For more information phone 1-928-753-9889 or visit their web
page: Route66Museum.
The museum is housed in the same building (the old Powerhouse) as
the Kingman Visitors'
Center.
Kingman Army
Airfield Museum - In 1943, this Army Air Field was commissioned to
train gunners for our bombers. During the course of World War II, over
36,000 gunners were trained.
When the War was won in 1945, there was no further need to train
gunners - nor for the aircraft in which they flew. The Air Field was
given the task of converting the aluminum in these planes to aluminum
ingots. This assignment was finally completed in 1948. 70,000,000 pounds
of aluminum were rescued from 7,000 thousand airplanes.
After this last assignment was completed, the military had no
further use for the facility and ownership was transferred to Mohave
County. It now serves as a museum.
To pass on a quote from the Museum: "A relatively few of the
airplanes escaped destruction, and some are still flying today. Others
rest in the museum to be viewed by people who do not remember, or who do
not understand the meaning of what they are seeing.
For more information phone 1-928-757-1892 or visit their web
page: KingmanAAF.
From I-40 take exit 53. Turn left onto Route 66 and follow it
along the railroad tracks to Mohave Airport Drive. Turn right, drive to
the end of the road and turn right onto Fl;ightline Drive. You'll easily
see the museum.
Mohave Museum of
History and Arts - This private, not-for-profit organization was
founded in 1961. To quote: "(We) are dedicated to the purposes of
preserving the heritage of Northwestern Arizona and of presenting that
history to the public."
The museum also maintains a library in which are housed
documents, manuscripts, maps, and photos about Mohave County, Arizona
and the American Southwest.
For more
information phone 1-928-753-3195 or visit their web page: MMHA.
The Museum is located just a couple hundred yards east of the
Kingman Visitors'
Center.
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