U.S. Route 66 through Williams, Arizona began as a dirt street in the center of town which was later cindered and then paved. Despite some modern encroachments, most of U.S. Route 66 through Williams is lined with properties dating from the historic period. The four block long Williams Historic Business District was listed on the National Register of Historic Places on December 20, 1984.
It is flanked on the east and west by a commercial strip with motels, service stations, and restaurants dating to the 1920s, 1930s, and 1940s. One block of this commercial strip is west of the business district, and four blocks are to the east. The distribution and construction dates of these associated properties in Williams are directly related to construction of U.S. Route 66.
Unlike many stretches of U.S. Route 66 today, it is a good example of what the highway "looked like" during its heyday.
Williams continues to cater to the tourist trade, although Interstate 40 bypassed Route 66 on October 13, 1984.
+Notable buildings Along Bill Williams Avenue NameYear BuiltArchitectural StyleCommentsRock Building1936Babbitt-Polson Building1907Only Art Deco style building in Historic DistrictOriginally five smaller buildings combined and covered with stucco; housed grocery, hardware, department stores and bakeryBennett's Auto1930'sModern StyleGas station during heyday of Route 66 when gas sold for $0.16/gallonThe Postal Telegraph Co.1910Operated until 1940'sUnknown named original buildingca. 1910Rittenhouse Haberdasheryca. 1910Was a men's clothing store for 60+ yearsGrand Canyon Drug Companyca. 1912Pharmacy and soda fountain in front, doctor's office in rearOld Parlor Pool Hallca. 1910Lebsch Confectiioneryca. 1914Dime Storeca. 1912Duffy Brother's Grocery1912Originally a bank, mostly grocery store, also a dime store. Original tin ceilingCitizens Bank1918Neoclassical revivalFinancial center of lumber, ranching, and railroad operations; closed in 1958Sultana Theatre1912Saloon, billiard hall, silent movie theatre; liquor and gambling during prohibition; first "talkie" in Northern Arizona shown in 1930Pollock BuildingFirst floor constructed after 1901 fire; 2nd floor 1927"Rusticated" Romanesque RevivalOriginally bank, has been newspaper, telephone/telegraph office. Constructed of locally quarried dacite; 2nd story brickGrand Canyon Hotel1892Victorian Commercial styleHas survived several fires; the ground floor has served as a drug store, grocery store, dance hall, curio shop, and a meeting hall for Knights of Pythias LodgeUnknown originally named building1907Old Post Officeca 1907General Store1907Adams Groceryca. 1907Bowden Building1947Flagstones quarried from "Flagstone Capital of the World", 18 miles west of Williams; built during the post-WWII migration to California
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