A journey through time. Blurring the line between past, present, and future. A dynamic blending of colorful public art, architectural treasures bathed in a soft neon glow, and a few links to Hollywood’s golden age. It’s Kingman Tours, a template for fostering development of a sense of community and using cultural/heritage tourism as a catalyst for economic development as well as historic district revitalization.

Edesl Ford and Pamela Anderson. Louis Chevrolet and Buster Keaton. Bob Waldmire and Barry Goldwater. Henry Lovin and Jack Dempsey. Bob Boze Bell and Amelia Earhart. All of these celebrities have a Kingman connection. Kingman Tours weaves these stories, and the story of other celebrities and colorful characters, into a rich and colorful tapestry. It also transforms a simple walkabout into a journey through time.

Discover Kingman On Foot: The Narrated Walkabout with Jim Hinckley

If you’ve ever dreamed of stepping back in time to territorial Arizona or when Route 66 was the Main Street of America this innovative self guided tour should be added as a stop on your next road trip. Our friends at Kingman Main Street, working with Talisman Magic Marketing and the city of Kingman, created this immersive experience under the banner “Walkabout Kingman with Jim Hinckley.”

It was a distinct honor to be a part of this project and to provide the narration. Since it’s unveiling during the National Day Calendar National Road Trip Day celebrations several years ago, I have also been privileged with opportunities to share the project with community leaders and at conferences.

The fact that developers saw value in linking the project with me was humbling. Likewise with their decision to commission acclaimed sculptress J. Anne Butler to create a life sized bronze statue of me that stands in Depot Plaza. But the latter was also a bit surreal, sort of like attending my own funeral.

What’s in the Tour?

That’s the starting point, the statue and a kiosk where through use of a QR code former Mayor Jen Miles explains the tour. The location is rather fitting. The historic depot is located at the junction of two alignments of Route 66.

The project was designed as a virtual as well as physical tour. For the latter you use the website and QR codes on plaques located at more than 30 points of interest. The website features a Yodel based events calendar, and that makes it a great travel planning tool.

Blog posts about Kingman and regional history, colorful characters, events, and the Hollywood connection add value to the website. These posts are road trip inspiring and smile inducing. And they enhance the sense that Kingman Tours is a journey through time.

A Journey through time

As the website includes historic images, then and now photos, 360 degree photos, text of the audio narration for the deaf, and maps of the historic district the virtual tour aspect takes the project to another level. Anyone with internet access can discover and explore Kingman, even if they are incarcerated.

Because it was included in the lyrics of a catchy tune about getting your kicks on Route 66, Kingman is forever linked with that legenday highway. But this dusty desert crossroads has quite a history. And in phase one of the Kingman Tours many of these fascinating stories are brought to life.

Locomotive Park is a landmark and a roadside oasis where traveler on Route 66, US 466 and US 93 enjoyed a rest since the 1950s. But before Kingman Tours, how many people that stopped at the park knew that the Pittsburgh Pirates once played on this site?

Route 66

And, as might be expected, many sites included as points of interest have a Kingman connection. There is the world famous Mr. D’z Route 66 Diner that opened in 1940 as the Kingman Cafe. The story of this legendary diner is one of immigrants and Harvey girls.

Before Kingman Tours, how many people knew the story behind the naming of the Route 66 corridor in Kingman after character actor Andy Devine? Did you know that Andy Devine’s father, Thomas, played a role in charting the course of Route 66 in northwest Arizona?

How many people knew the connection between A Guide Book to Highway 66 published by Jack Ritttenhouse in 1946 and Mr. D’z Route 66 Diner? How many people knew the connection between Dunton Motors and artist Willem Bor, a founding member of the Dutch Route 66 Association?

Discover

Because it’s self-guided, you can linger at murals, public art, and sculptures. You can pause for coffee at Mudd on 66 or a photo at the Kingman mural created by Ray Harvey. You can enjoy first rate babecue at Floyd’s, a cold beer in the 1906 Sportsman’s Lounge, and then take a neon lit walk.

Soak in the ambiance. There is no set schedule. The beauty of this self-guided tour is that you set the pace. It is the freedom of the urban walkabout jam packed with rich storytelling.

Kingman is more than just a convenient stop while driving the interstate. It sits at the crossroads of past, present, and future. Established as a railroad town, it is the county seat of Mohave County and a Route 66 time capsule.

Kingman Tours

As you stroll through the historic heart of Kingman, you’ll encounter architecture and art that reflects a rich history of mining, ranching, railroads, and tourism. And Kingman also has a long association with Hollywood that many people will find surprising.

The tour doesn’t just cover buildings and historic sites. Kingman is an outdoor museum with colorful murals, sculptures and creative placemaking. These too are a part of Kingman Tours.

While the walk itself is the focal point, the website behind it brings the experience to life and extends reach far beyond the walkabout.

The interactive event calendar powered by Yodel lists downtown happenings including cruise nights, First Friday festivities, live music nights, and programs at Beale Street Theatre. It’s perfect for planning a week or weekend in Kingman.

And much, much more

As mentioned previously, the website features a robust blog section. As you know, sharing America’s story is what we do at Jim Hinckley’s America. So, this is another venue for us to do just that, share stories.

One important part of the Kingman Tours website that we haven’t discussed is the Route 66 Centennial Online Gift Shop. In celebration of the 2025-26 centennial of Route 66, the site hosts an online gift-shop offering exclusive merchandise. This includes commemorative t-shirts, mugs, postcards and more. With international shipping Route 66 fans worldwide can bring home a piece of Kingman.

The gift shop serves another purporse. Proceeds fund tour maintenance as well as development. And they also lend support to Kingman Main Street.

The website also features lodging and dining suggestions. There is also information about area attractions. All of this helps you turn a visit into a full-day or weekend experience.

Why This Matters for Communities & Visitors

From a community-development lens (something we at Jim Hinckley’s America care about), this tour is a textbook example of how to capitalize on heritage tourism. Through Kingman Tours, Kingman Main Street and Talisman Magic Marketing have leveraged the city’s legacy into a revitalization catalyst.

Layering cultural and heritage tourism with vibrant public art, and a web-platform that draws visitors, supports local business, and tells a story, Kingman Tours has become a vital part of the districts ongoing renaissance. For the visitor, you’re doing more than walking a few dozen blocks. This is a journey through time. And you’re doing it at your own pace, with narration from a storyteller to guide you.

So, if you’re planning a road-trip, make Kingman a must-stop. Walk the historic streets, soak in art and history, support downtown businesses, and bring home a piece of Route 66 legacy through the gift-shop.

At Jim Hinckley’s America we’re proud to support projects like this that make history relevant, joyful, and enduring. Safe travels.