Winslow, Arizona on Route 66: Standin' On The Corner

To begin day 8, head out of Holbrook heading west on I-40. The first stop is Winslow, Arizona. As you enter Winslow headed westbound, old US 66 takes a right turn. On the corner you’ll find this patriotic display, featuring a flag and two mangled steel beams. Chances are, you’ll know what you’re looking at, even before you read the plaque.

The beams are, of course, from the World Trade Center in New York City. Even though there’s no parking lot, there’s enough room to pull over at the side of the road, so you can spend a moment or two in quiet reflection, before moving on.

Aside from being a stop along Old 66, Winslow has another claim to fame. Remember the Eagles song Take it Easy?

“Well I’m a standin’ on a corner in Winslow, Arizona, such a fine sight to see. It’s a girl my Lord in a flatbed Ford slowin’ down to take a look at me.”

City leaders decided that a particular corner at Kinsley Ave. and Second St. must have been the one the song was talking about. The tourist draw features a life-size sculpture of a man and his guitar, standing in front of a two-story high mural. You will also find several souvenir shops nearby, which are capable of fulfilling all your Route 66 memorabilia needs.

Standin’ on the Corner Park was nearly destroyed by fire in October, 2004. The building on which the town’s famous mural is painted is a complete loss, however, the wall and mural surprisingly survived. If you’d rather find out more about how the park was first constructed, and how to have a brick engraved with your name on the sidewalk, visit the park’s official website, here. Also look for the update at the bottom of the page.

Historic US 66 signs, like the one above, help keep you on the right track through Winslow and many other small towns in Arizona.

The Wigwam Motel: Holbrook, Arizona

Sunset Crater National Monument: Lenox Crater

Note: This trip was first published in 2005. I spent more time in Winslow on a more recent trip.

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