Wrapping Up Williams

Circle Pines KOA

Williams, AZ

August 10, 2025 

The longest remaining stretch of U. S. Route 66 left in the entire country is the 157 miles that begins at Seligman and runs to the California border.  The original journey on U.S. Route 66 from Chicago to Santa Monica was officially born in 1926. It was 2,448 miles long. 

A lifelong resident of Seligman, Angel Delgadillo, was born in 1927 and as an adult ran a barber shop which he opened in 1950 along with a souvenir shop inside his business located in the center of town on Route 66. The souvenir shop is still a family owned business today with a section dedicated to the larger shop and memorabilia. Delgadillo retired in 1997, but continued to give hair cuts and straight edge razor shaves to tourists from all over the world until 2022.  At 95 days old, he finally retired...a 75 year career of bartering on Route 66.He died at a young age of 98 this year.  The photo was taken of him in 1995. 

Seligman became known as the "Birthplace of Historic Route 66" in 1987 because of the efforts of Angel Delgadillo  who is the founder of the Historic Route 66 Association in Arizona. For his work promoting Route 66, Delgadillo has been called "The Father of the Mother Road", and "The Guardian Angel of Route 66"  

When the chief creative officer for Pixar Animation Studios, John Alan Lasseter, was researching history of Route 66 for the 2006 Pixar movie Cars, he met Delgadillo who told him how traffic through town virtually disappeared on the day that nearby Interstate opened 40.  In the film one of the characters (Sally Carrera - an animated Porsche 996) serves as a vehicle to deliver that message in a 31/2 minute flashback when which the town and the highway literally vanished from the map. Lasseter said that Delgadillo's own memories inspired the tales in the movie...including Mater, the toothy truck.

Mater

In its heyday, small town Seligman was known as a vibrant Route 66 stop for travelers.  Today it's full of history, with a quirky, nostalgic small town charm and often described as a step back in time.  Ronnie was born in Arkansas and we enjoyed his stories of traveling in the back of an old pick-up truck along this historic route to and from California.  

Another fun day with friends!

Wrapping up our wonderful week in Williams was a stop at Monument Park.  It is a charming memorial park and garden with various statues and monuments. As mentioned in an earlier post. the park pays tribute to the town's history and its namesake.

Old Bill Williams

The park also commemorates veterans and fallen soldiers.

And there is a commemorative piece of the USS Arizona incased on display.

Salvia

And one last stop at the Community Methodist Church. It was the first religious institution in Williams built in 1891 with an addition built in 1923.  It is noted for its Gothic Revival architectural style and being the longest continually used Methodist church building in Arizona. 

The steeple

The sanctuary

The windows in the additions made in 1923
  

The additional rooms were built so they didn't disturb the poplar trees that were planted when the sanctuary was built in 1891.

Was added to the National Register in 1984

And to wrap up our week, Circle Pines was a great place to stay right next door to dear friends.  Lucy kept a watchful eye on Carol and Ronnie and when they left, I got teary eyed and even Lucy had a quiver in her bottom lip.  

Being nosy

Friends

Conestoga wagons for rent

Horse rides 

Beautiful weather

Cosmic golf...a lot of laughs 

Blue and green and white

It's funny how all the time between visits just disappears and we always resume right where we left off.

Lucy discovered pine sticks...she actually removed all the bark very carefully before she chewed on them.  

We said our good byes until next time and drove a whopping 36 miles on Sunday.  We will be in Flagstaff for week so stay tuned!  Until next time, 

HAPPY TRAILS!