The Beale Wagon Road by Winslow artist Joe Rodriguez
The Winslow Historical Society and Winslow Centennial Committee continue their year-long series celebrating the city’s history with All Roads Lead to Winslow. Come hear about the area’s early trails, roads and byways from 2 to 3:30 p.m. on Saturday, Feb. 11, at the Winslow Visitors Center in the former Hubbell Trading Post, 523 W. Second St.
For centuries, people have been drawn to the Winslow area because of the nearby Little Colorado River. The river ensured a good source of water, and a shallow crossing point east of present-day Winslow made the area a thoroughfare for various groups. Ancient ancestors of the Hopi people settled nearby over 800 years ago, and today you can visit remnants of these communities at Homolovi State Park. Additional Native American trails, along with Spanish explorations, the Beale Wagon Road, pioneer treks and stagecoach adventures are also part of the area’s history, and played an important role in Winslow’s eventual settlement.
Two different Mormon colonies, Sunset and Brigham City, were established nearby in the 1870s. In 1881, the Atlantic and Pacific Railroad played a critical role in the establishment of Winslow’s townsite. In 1912, the same year Arizona became a state, the National Old Trails Road connected Winslow with other communities as part of a coast-to-coast highway system. Later, Route 66 was established and became known as “the Mother Road,” though it was eventually decommissioned and replaced by Interstate 40.
This presentation is part of Second Saturdays in Winslow, a year-long series of programs that explore Winslow’s diverse history in celebration of the Arizona State Centennial on Feb. 14. Find us on Facebook, or go to www.OldTrailsMuseum.org for the latest exhibit and program information.
