Guest Post By the Editorial Team at Kingman Tours

There are walking tours, and then there are experiences that transform a simple stroll into a voyage of discovery. The walkabout becomes a journey through time.

In the historic of Kingman, Arizona bisected by legendary Route 66, visitors are discovering an innovative attraction that has become one of the city’s most photographed, talked-about, and celebrated tourism and community building initiatives.

Kingman Tours, officially recognized as a Route 66 Centennial Certified Project, has evolved into far more than a self-guided walking tour. It has become an integral part of downtown revitalization, and a portal for community development project fundraising. It is also a visitor information hub, and a showcase for the remarkable history and public art in Kingman.

An Idea Rooted in Community

The origins of Kingman Tours can be traced to a simple question and an ambitious goal. Is it possible to link Kingman’s colorful story with a project that fosters development of a sense of community, helps transform Kingman into a destination, and fuels the historic district reniassance?

Developed through a partnership between Kingman Main Street, Talisman Magic Marketing and City of Kingman, the project was designed as an interactive, QR code-based narrated walking tour that would allow visitors to explore downtown at their own pace while learning the stories behind the buildings, the art, the people, and events that shaped this historic crossroads community. The website was designed so that this is also a vitual tour.

Officially launched in conjunction with National Road Trip Day celebrations in 2022, the tour quickly demonstrated that heritage tourism could be both educational and entertaining, and a component in economic development.

Visitors simply scan QR codes located at points of interest throughout the downtown historic district and along the Route 66 corridor. What follows is something far more engaging than a traditional historical marker. Audio narration brings each location to life with stories, anecdotes, and historical context. This creates an immersive experience that encourages exploration far beyond the typical visitor stop.

Why Jim Hinckley?

From the beginning, Kingman Main Street envisioned the project as a tool for fostering development of a sense of community. It was also to be an attraction that encouraged exploring the historic district on foot.

And so they asked Jim Hinckley, author, historian and creator of the Jim Hinckley’s America network, to be the voice and face of the project.

Internationally recognized as an authority on Route 66 history, Hinckley has spent decades promoting Kingman and this legendary highway through books, newspaper columns, podcasts, presentations, media interviews, tourism consulting, and international speaking engagements. His work has introduced countless travelers from around the world to Kingman’s rich history and unique attractions.

Over the years, Hinckley has served communities, tourism organizations, chambers of commerce, museums, and tour operators as a consultant and presenter. Through the Jim Hinckley’s America network, the Coffee With Jim podcast, an official Route 66 centennial certified program, as well as public appearances, he has consistently highlighted Kingman as a premier destinations on Route 66 and for southwest adventurers.

Tour groups from Europe, Australia, New Zealand, and throughout North America frequently seek out Hinckley’s expertise for guided experiences, historical interpretation, and customized presentations. His reputation as an author, historian, humorist, and storyteller has made him one of Kingman’s most recognizable ambassadors on the international stage.

Recognizing these contributions, Kingman Main Street chose to make Hinckley the centerpiece of the project, not simply as narrator but as a symbol of the city’s ongoing commitment to preserving and sharing its history.

The Statue That Everyone Photographs

No feature about Kingman Tours would be complete without mentioning what has become a popular attractions. Depot Plaza with the Route 66 Walk of Fame and Kingman Main Street commeorative bricks, and a life-sized bronze statue of Jim Hinckley.

Created by Arizona sculptor J. Anne Butler and installed at the historic railroad depot, the statue serves as the starting point for the walking tour. Today, visitors from around the globe routinely pose for photographs with the statue before beginning their exploration of downtown. Social media posts featuring the sculpture have helped spread awareness of both Kingman Tours and the city itself, creating a distinctive attraction unlike anything else on Route 66.

For many visitors, taking a photograph with the statue has become an important part of their Route 66 pilgrimage. It was even featured in Annie Mouse’s Route 66 Activity Book by Anne Maro Slanina.

Discovering Kingman’s Hidden Stories

The tour guides visitors through some of the most significant sites in Kingman’s historic district and along Route 66. Among the featured locations are Depot Plaza, the historic railroad depot, the Hotel Beale, the Mohave County Courthouse, the Territorial Jail, the Harvey House, the Powerhouse Visitor Center, the Little Red Schoolhouse, the Elks Lodge, Locomotive Park, murals, vintage motels, historic commercial buildings, and numerous landmarks associated with Kingman’s transportation, mining, aviation, and railroad history.

Visitors also discover stories connected to famous names such as Charles Lindbergh, Amelia Earhart, Buster Keaton, Clark Gable, Carole Lombard, Andy Devine, Louis Chevrolet, and Barney Oldfield.

Each stop adds another layer to the understanding of how this desert railroad town made famous in a song about getting your kicks on Route 66 evolved into “the heart of historic Route 66.”

More Than a Tour

What makes Kingman Tours especially innovative is that it functions as far more than a walking tour.

Under the direction of Talisman Magic Marketing, the website has evolved into a comprehensive visitor resource. The website features an attractions guide, dining information, lodging resources, historical articles, and an extensive event calendar powered by Yodel AI event calendar technology that helps visitors discover activities and experiences throughout the region.

Visitors can also browse the Route 66 Centennial gift shop, featuring unique merchandise tied to Kingman and the upcoming Route 66 Centennial celebration. These offerings not only provide memorable keepsakes but also reinforce Kingman’s identity as a premier Route 66 destination.

The website additionally serves as a gateway to archived episodes of Coffee With Jim, providing visitors with deeper insight into local history, attractions, personalities, and ongoing community projects.

Supporting Kingman Main Street

Perhaps one of the most important aspects of Kingman Tours is its role in supporting the work of Kingman Main Street.

The organization continues to champion projects that improve public spaces, and strengthen community pride through historic preservation.

Among the most successful fundraising initiatives is the sale of commemorative bricks at Depot Plaza. Through the Route 66 Walk of Fame brick program, supporters can purchase personalized engraved bricks that become a permanent part of the historic district. The program not only generates revenue for community projects but also gives supporters an opportunity to leave a lasting legacy in one of Kingman’s most visited public spaces.

Revitalizing Downtown One Project at a Time

Kingman Tours also serves as a showcase for the broader work being undertaken by Kingman Main Street.

One of the organization’s most visible initiatives has been the Hotel Beale façade beautification and restoration project. The historic hotel has stood at the heart of downtown since 1900. Notable guests including Charles Lindbergh, Amelia Earhart, and Buster Keaton. Efforts to restore and enhance the building represent a significant step in the ongoing renaissance of the historic district.

Adding to the excitement has been the relighting of the iconic Hotel Beale neon sign for the first time in more than 60 years. The relighting celebration during the annual Route 66 Fun Run generated tremendous enthusiasm among residents and visitors alike. It illustrates the historic preservation and renewed community confidence that is transforming Kingman.

Kingman Main Street has also worked to enhance public spaces. Recently approved was a botanical garden walking tour along Andy Devine Avenue (Route 66) between the Powerhouse Visitor Center and historic railroad depot. The project will provide visitors and residents with an inviting pedestrian environment that blends natural beauty and public art while complementing the broader revitalization of downtown Kingman.

The Future Looks Bright

In the year of the Route 66 centennial, Kingman Tours continues to demonstrate how technology, storytelling, historic preservation, and community partnerships can work together to create a unique visitor experience.

What began as a self-guided walking tour has become a model for experiential tourism. It promotes local businesses, supports preservation efforts, celebrates community heritage, generates fundraising opportunities, and introduces visitors to the remarkable stories that make Kingman special.

Most importantly, it reminds visitors that history is not confined to museums or books. And it all begins with a walk through downtown and a photograph beside a bronze statue that has become one of Arizona’s most unexpected Route 66 landmarks.