b'SELIGMANRoute 66 is the quintessential American road trip. This ribbon of road connecting small towns across the country is the essence of America. It represents freedom, unity, and mobility. Seligman is in the heart of the beautiful high desert of Northern Arizona with the mountains to the east, the desert to the west, and the Grand Canyon to the north. It could have very well become another ghost town when the I-40 bypassed it in 1978 but the townsfolk were determined not to let that happen, and Main Street has kept its character and charm.W hether you are looking for good food, friendlyBecause of its flat land, Seligman became a largeHouse had the resources of the railroad they were able to people, interesting photo opportunities, orswitching yard consisting of many tracks and served asbring in fresh meat and produce to their restaurant and just a little fun you\'ll find it in Seligman.a large livestock shipping center for the area\'s ranchers.lunch counter that no other establishments were able to Visitors have referred to Seligman as "a delightful town,"It was also a terminal point for changing train crewsdo. The Havasu Harvey House opened in 1905, closed in "a step back in time," "eclectic," "a really cool pit-stop,"between Winslow and Needles, who used overnight1954, and was demolished in 2008.and "one of the high spots of the Route 66 trip." Seligmancottages in the town. Passenger trains ceased stopping is a favorite stop for tour buses as well as individualsin Seligman in 1984. The Burlington Northern SantaSeligman was on the original U.S. Route 66 from 1926 traveling the longest stretch of Route 66 or taking I-40 toFe Railway (BNSF) has owned the tracks through townthrough 1978, when Interstate 40 bypassed it a few the Grand Canyon. since 1996, which carries numerous freight trains andmiles south. Seligman experienced its real heyday nonstop Amtrak trains.after World War II when returning veterans and other HISTORY motorists hit the road and made the Southwest a popular The region was in the longtime homeland of theThe "Havasu House" was a Fred Harvey Companytourist destination. In 1987 Seligman gained its name Havasupai people, who had a settlement in the present- Harvey House hotel and restaurant in Seligman, serving"Birthplace of Historic Route 66" due to the efforts of day Seligman area. Originally, Seligman was calledthe Santa Fe Railway and residents. It was namedSeligman residents, who convinced the State of Arizona "Prescott Junction" because it was the railroad stop on"Havasu" after the native Havasupai tribe of the area.to dedicate Route 66 as a historic highway. Seligman is the Santa Fe mainline junction with the Prescott andIt consisted of an upscale train depot with a platformthe first stop heading west on the longest uninterrupted Arizona Central Railway Company feeder line runningand ticket office, a grand 2-story hotel with an elegantstretch of historic Route 66, running around 160 miles to to Prescott, in the Arizona Territory. The Atchison,surrounding garden, a lunch counter, and a fine diningTopock on the east side of the Colorado River.Topeka, and Santa Fe Railway (AT&SF) had reached itroom. The Havasu and its neatly uniformed staff stood in 1882. In 1886 it was renamed Seligman, after Jesseout in the small remote town inhabited by ranchersJust northwest of town lies the Seligman Airport. If you Seligman, one of the founders of J. & W. Seligman & Co.and railroad laborers. It offered job opportunities forfeel like taking your plane out for a spin you can fly to of New York, who helped finance the railroad lines in thethe family members of the local workforce. Many localSeligman and walk into town on the gravel path. The area. The original feeder line to Prescott was replaced inwomen became Harvey Girls along with traveling Fredairport is open to the public and restaurants and shops 1891 by the Santa Fe, Prescott, and Phoenix Railway withHarvey employees who would work at various Harveyare only a half-mile walk from the airport. Seligman is a the Santa Fe mainline junction at Ash Fork instead. House locations along the rail line. Because the Harveyfun and easy day trip for any pilot with a small aircraft.24 June 2021'