eligman, was established in 1886 as the connecting point of Atchison, Topeka and Santa Fe Railroad, with a long abandoned rail line extending south to Prescott. As the railroad barreled through Arizona to align the rich resources of the west with the businesses of the east, it gave birth to many such towns along the way.

Seligman's genesis began at the junction of the Prescott and Arizona Central feeder line and the Atlantic and Pacific Railroad. Santa Fe established repair facilities, including the famous "Harvey House - Road House" in Seligman.

Santa Fe Railroad

The town owes its name to the Seligman brothers, two New York bankers who helped finance the rail line south. Jesse Seligman, who with his seven brothers came to America from Baiersdorf, Bavaria, soon earned worldwide recognition as a leader in international banking and railroad financing. For his efforts in raising money for the project, railroad officials chose to honor the New York financier by naming an emerging western town in the Arizona territory after him.

The town, however, was not founded on the present day location. In fact, the town was situated more than a mile to the southeast. Jack Beale Smith, curator of the Museum of the Beale Wagon Road, describes Seligman as the "most moved town in the West." Nearly all of the houses, including Santa Fe's Harvey House, were moved to their current location piece by piece.

In the early 1900's the town had its share of rough characters complete with shootouts on the main street. At one time, the number of bars and bordellos outnumbered churches three to one.

Local cowboys at chow time

Cowboys often took part in some of the wilder activities until they spent all their wages - then it was back to work. The cattle industry continues to survive in and around town. Some of the state's largest ranches call Seligman headquarters.

In the early Route 66 years, Seligman accommodated many travelers with motor courts galore. Seligman is the beginning of the remaining 158 mile stretch of Old Route 66 to Topock and is rich in scenic and historic value.

Today a visit to this small town is a step back in time and tourism is still an important part of the economy.

Delgadillo's Pool Hall - 1942

The town remains an odd mixture of roads, cattle and rails. It is not uncommon to see 18-wheelers and ranch trucks parked outside the homes of Seligman's 900 residents, while many of Seligman's old-timers are railroad retirees.

Seligman is the destination route to the picturesque Havasupai Falls - considered a hiker's paradise. Thirty miles from Seligman, travelers can enjoy the Grand Canyon Caverns that boast some of the most fascinating stalagmites in the westerly United States.

The Hualapai and Havasupai Tribes are within an hour's drive from Seligman. And naturally the state's gem - the Grand Canyon - draws millions of visitors each year.

Life Magazine photograph, Seligman, AZ - 1953

70 miles west of Seligman is Kingman, AZ, headquarters for the Historic Route 66 Association of Arizona and home to the future Route 66 Museum a "must-see" for Route 66 aficionados.

Seligman is a great town, where the people are friendly and the town is clean. Like other towns along Route 66 Seligman is a place you do not want to rush through.

If you are in the neighborhood, stop by the Delgadillo's Route 66 Gift Shop and Visitor Center and pick up a Walking Tour Guide to Historic Seligman. This walking Tour takes about 20 minutes and guides you through the original center of Seligman. On the walk you will glimpse the colorful history of a thriving railroad town and feel the friendly, comfortable atmosphere which made Seligman a welcome stopping point for train and highway travelers.