Winslow: Route 66, Art and Railroad History
Accommodation in Winslow
Winslow is located along historic Route 66 and offers several distinct ways to explore its history: art at Standin’ On The Corner Park, La Posada’s connection to the railroad, and museums housed in older buildings. This makes it possible to shape your stay around different interests instead of treating Route 66 as the only theme. If you’re looking for a vacation rental in Winslow, you can first decide which of these themes you’d like to include in your trip.
Art and Route 66 at Standin’ On The Corner Park
The Standin’ On The Corner in Winslow, Arizona Park committee decided that the park should focus on the song “Take It Easy.” This clear connection is reflected in several works of art. A two-story mural by trompe-l’œil artist John Pugh introduces optical illusion as an artistic element. Beside it, a life-size bronze statue depicts a 1970s man holding a guitar. The mural and statue create different impressions: one features large-scale painting and its illusion technique, while the other depicts a figure with a specific era and instrument. Together with the song reference, they offer a distinctive way to experience Route 66 culture that brings together music, visual art and sculpture.
La Posada and Winslow’s Railroad History
The La Posada Historic District covers an 11-acre area and includes a hotel and a train station. La Posada Hotel is in the heart of Winslow along old Route 66 and opened in 1930 as a luxury railroad hotel in the Fred Harvey series. The station in the district and the hotel’s designation as a railroad hotel show two sides of the same historical context. The Affeldt Mion Museum is located in the hotel’s 1930 depot. The Old Trails Museum offers a different connection to a historic building: it is housed in the 1921 First National Bank building.
The activities at La Posada also offer different points of focus. The hotel offers a self-guided tour of its history and restoration. The La Posada Organic Gardens also have a walking tour. Those interested in the hotel’s history can choose this option instead of a walk through the gardens. Check the tour availability in advance if you’d like to include one in your itinerary.
Which focus suits your trip?
If you’re mainly interested in exploring Route 66’s cultural connections, the song “Take It Easy” and the two works of art take center stage at the park. For a railroad connection, the Historic District, the La Posada Hotel—which opened in 1930—and the train station offer a different thematic setting. The museums add to the options with their separate locations in the depot and bank building. You can weigh these themes against each other as you plan your trip without combining them into a single reason to visit.
The tour formats also differ: the tour about the hotel’s history and restoration is self-guided, while the Organic Gardens tour is on foot. Consider what kind of exploration you prefer and which places matter to your trip. When searching for a vacation rental in Winslow, you can then compare the location of each option with the stops you have planned.
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Return to the broader travel overview: Navajo.
