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.
Historic US 66 signs, like the one above, help keep you on the right track through Winslow and many other small towns in Arizona.
Note: This trip was first published in 2005. I spent more time in Winslow on a more recent trip.
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