Williams Historic Business District facts for kids

Quick facts for kids
Williams Historic Business District
U.S. National Register of Historic Places
U.S. Historic district
Looking west from 1st Street, down Route 66, Williams, AZ
Location in Arizona Show map of Arizona Location in the United States Show map of the United States
Location	Roughly bounded by Grant and Railroad Aves., and 1st and 4th Sts., Williams, Arizona
Area	25 acres (10 ha)
Built	1890 (1890)
Architect	Multiple
Architectural style	Romanesque, Victorian Commercial
NRHP reference No.	84000436
Added to NRHP	December 20, 1984

The Williams Historic Business District is a special area in Williams, Arizona. It's important because it shows how tourism grew in America. This area became a major part of the local economy.

The district was perfectly located for visitors. It was right on the Atchison, Topeka and Santa Fe Railway (now the Southwest Chief) and U.S. Highway 66. These were two big travel routes across the country. Plus, it was the starting point for both train and road trips to the amazing Grand Canyon.

This area also tells a story about how the American West developed. It shows how the town grew from ranching to becoming a hub for railroads and lumber.

The Urban Route 66, Williams was added to the National Register of Historic Places on May 19, 1989. This list recognizes places important to American history.

The Williams Historic Business District is also special for its buildings. It has many examples of late 1800s and early 1900s architecture. These buildings show the common styles of the time.

Most buildings in the district are one or two stories tall. Some show specific architectural styles. For example, the Fray Marcos Hotel has Renaissance Revival features. The Cabinet Saloon and the Pollock Building are made of local rock called dacite and show Romanesque Revival style. The Tetzlaff Building is a yellow brick building with Victorian Romanesque touches.

The district covers an area in the center of Williams. It's generally between 4th Street on the west, 1st Street on the east, Grant Avenue on the south, and the Fray Marcos Hotel on the north. It includes businesses connected to the Atchison, Topeka and Santa Fe Railway. U.S. Route 66 runs right through the middle of the district as Bill Williams Avenue.

Famous Buildings in Williams

Many buildings in the Williams Historic Business District have interesting stories. They show how the town grew and changed over time. Here are some of the most notable ones:

Name	Year Built	Architectural Style	Cool Facts
Fray Marcos Hotel Fray Marcos Hotel, 235 N. Grand Canyon Blvd, Williams, AZ	1908	Renaissance Revival	This hotel is very important to the district's history. It was a famous "Harvey House" and connected to the Santa Fe Railway. It served train passengers traveling to the Grand Canyon. It started as a small shop in 1901 and grew over 20 years.
Babbitt-Polson Warehouse Babbitt-Polson Warehouse, NW of Visitors Center, Williams, AZ	Late 1890s		This building stored grain, coal, and hardware that arrived by the Santa Fe Railroad.
Rock Building Rock Building, 326 W. Route 66, Williams, AZ	1936
Babbitt-Polson Building Babbitt-Polson Building, 314 W. Route 66, Williams, AZ	1907	Only Art Deco style building in Historic District	This building was originally five smaller ones. They were combined and covered with stucco. It used to have a grocery store, hardware store, department store, and a bakery.
Bennett's Auto Bennett's Auto, 239 W. Route 66, Williams, AZ	1930s	Modern Style	This was a gas station during the busiest years of Route 66. Gas cost about 16 cents a gallon back then!
The Postal Telegraph Co. The Postal Telegraph Co., 239 W. Route 66, Williams, AZ	1910		This company operated until the 1940s, helping people send messages.
Unknown named original building Unknown Building, 229 Route 66, Williams, AZ	ca. 1910
Rittenhouse Haberdashery Rittenhouse Haberdashery, 225 W. Route 66, Williams, AZ	ca. 1910		This was a men's clothing store for over 60 years.
Grand Canyon Drug Company Grand Canyon Drug Company, 221 W. Route 66, Williams, AZ	ca. 1912		It had a pharmacy and a soda fountain in the front. A doctor's office was in the back.
Old Parlor Pool Hall Old Parlor Pool Hall, 217 W. Route 66, Williams, AZ	ca. 1910
Lebsch Confectionery Lebesch Confectionery, 213 W. Route 66, Williams, AZ	ca. 1914
Dime Store Dime Store, 209 W. Route 66, Williams, AZ	ca. 1912
Duffy Brother's Grocery Duffy Brother's Grocery Store, 201 W. Route 66, Williams, AZ	1912		This building was first a bank, then mostly a grocery store. It also had a dime store. It still has its original tin ceiling!
Citizens Bank Citizen Bank, 202 W. Route 66, Williams, AZ	1918	Neoclassical revival	This bank was a financial hub for the lumber, ranching, and railroad businesses. It closed in 1958.
Sultana Theatre Sultana Theatre, 301 W. Route 66, Williams, AZ	1912		This building was once a place for entertainment, including a silent movie theater. The first "talkie" (movie with sound) in Northern Arizona was shown here in 1930.
Pollock Building Pollock Building, 104 N. 3rd Street, Williams, AZ	First floor constructed after 1901 fire; 2nd floor 1927	"Rusticated" Romanesque Revival	This building was originally a bank. It has also been a newspaper office and a telephone/telegraph office. It's made of local rock called dacite on the first floor, with brick on the second.
Grand Canyon Hotel Grand Canyon Hotel, 145 W. Route 66, Williams, AZ	1912	Victorian Commercial style	This hotel has survived several fires! Its ground floor has been many things: a drug store, grocery store, dance hall, and a meeting place for the Knights of Pythias Lodge.
Unknown originally named building Unknown Named Building, 135 W. Route 66, Williams, AZ	1907
Old Post Office Old Post Office, 132 W. Route 66, Williams, AZ	ca 1907
General Store General Store, 129 W. Route 66, Williams, AZ	1907
Adams Grocery Adams Grocery, 125 W. Route 66, Williams, AZ	ca. 1907
Bowden Building Bowden Building, 114 W. Route 66, Williams, AZ	1947		The flagstones used here came from the "Flagstone Capital of the World," which is 18 miles west of Williams. It was built after World War II.
Whiskey Alley Saloon Whiskey Alley Saloon, 109 W. Railroad Ave., Williams, AZ	ca. 1910	Victorian Commercial style	This is one of the oldest buildings on Railroad Avenue. It used to have two stories, with the top floor being a hotel. In the 1920s, it was known as the "Maggie Torrez Mexican Food Restaurant."
Tetzlaff Building Tetzlaff Building, 137 W. Railroad Ave., Williams, Az	ca, 1897	Victorian Romanesque	This building was originally a lively gathering place with an elegant parlor. It had pool and poker tables on the ground floor. A Chinese restaurant was at the back. Its strong brick construction helped stop fires in 1901 and 1903 that burned down other buildings on Railroad Avenue.
The Cabinet Saloon The Cabinet Saloon, 141 W. Railroad Ave., Williams, Az	ca. 1893	Romanesque Revival style	This is one of the oldest buildings in Williams. It was known as a "Leading Sporting Resort." Its stone construction helped it survive several fires. It was even used as a bar scene in the 1988 movie Midnight Run.
Red Cross Garage Red Cross Garage, 221 W. Railroad Ave., Williams, Az	ca. 1913		This garage served travelers with both wagons and cars. The other end of the building used to be a bowling alley!