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Kingman’s varied history is owed to America’s move west, from Beale’s Wagon Road during the California Gold Rush to the railroad and Route 66. Its pioneering past can be observed in the architecture of Kingman’s historic downtown, which is dotted with museums, restaurants, shops, breweries, and colorful murals echoing the stories of the small town.
Start your day with breakfast by filling up with coffee and Eggs Benedict at Mr. D’z Route 66 Diner or a Breakfast Club Dip with ham, swiss cheese, and egg on French toast at Calico’s Restaurant. Then climb back in the car for a quick drive to White Cliffs Wagon Trail where you can take a leisurely stroll along wagon ruts etched out by gold prospectors in the 1800s. This trail includes a few miles of easy to moderate trail along the old wagon road and through the rugged bluffs surrounding Historic Downtown Kingman.
Afterward, for a more in depth look at the area’s history, visit the Mohave Museum of History & Arts to browse displays and artifacts covering Kingman turquoise, mining, railroading, ranching, and the native populations, including an extensive Kachina doll collection.
Fun Fact: Kingman is the Turquoise Capital of the World due to a marketing stunt of a turquoise producer in the 1970’s who also developed the Turquoise Kings, a semi-professional softball team of the time.
Upon admission, you’ll be given a Downtown Walking Tour Map and a ticket to get into the Bonelli House, a 1915 territorial style architecture home open for tours by the Historical Society every Monday through Friday. Here you can get a real glimpse of the early pioneers who settled Northwestern Arizona.
Before taking that tour, park downtown and grab lunch at one of the many mom ‘n pop restaurants, with everything from Mexican to southern BBQ, or from Thai to burgers and pizza.
After lunch and a visit to the Bonelli House, check out the shops lining downtown. You can find hand crafted and local products, antiques, home décor, and jewelry made with famous Kingman turquoise, all tucked away in the quaint art deco and midcentury modern buildings that populate Kingman’s downtown streetscape. You can check out several murals & public art pieces or unfold the Downtown Walking Tour Map to peer into the history of old town Kingman.
Early settlement in this wild land was a mixed bag of prospectors and ranchers, but the real catalyst proved to be the iron horse. Kingman’s namesake, Lewis Kingman, conducted the survey and construction of the railroad through Northern Arizona in the early 1880s. The Kingman Railroad Museum, located in Kingman’s historic Railroad Depot, houses area railroad memorabilia, artifacts from local former railroaders, and three operating model train displays. Large windows allow plenty of safe viewing of the real trains thundering outside just feet away.
Get a vantage point of the railroad engineer by stepping up into Steam Engine #3759 at Locomotive Park, a 1928 Baldwin “Northern Type” coal-burning locomotive.
Fun Facts: The Chicago Cubs and Pittsburg Pirates played in a major league exhibition in this park in 1924. Locomotive No. 3759 ran 2,585,600 miles before it was donated to Kingman in 1957 as a Historical Landmark.
When it’s time for dinner, you will never have to worry about dining twice at the same spot - unless you want to! Order up Six Dead Guys In A Trunk (escargot antipasti) and a glass of wine at Mattina’s Ristorante Italiano or a pint of Kwitcherbichen and a Jersey Girl pizza at Rickety Cricket Brewing.
