It’s a long drive to the Grand Canyon and we wanted to get there, purchase our national park passes, check into our hotel the Yavapai Lodge, and visit the Visitor Center before it closed. This meant we didn’t have a lot of time for pit stops and activities along the way.
Luckily, we stopped for lunch in Kingman, Arizona — the Heart of Historic Route 66 — and discovered museums, parks, trains, and a 1950s-era diner all within a block of the historic Kingman Powerhouse Visitor Center.
- We visited the Arizona Route 66 Museum and the Route 66 Electric Vehicle Museum at the Historic Powerhouse,
- Strolled through the Route 66 Locomotive Park and climbed on the steam engine and caboose,
- Checked out Mr. D’z Route 66 Diner, a favorite stop of travelers along The Mother Road,
- And wandered through the Mohave Museum Of History And Arts.
Visiting the Mohave Museum Of History And Arts
Upon entering the museum, you walk right into the Hall Of Presidents — a totally unexpected and seemingly out of place exhibit. It is a collection of portraits of all United States Presidents and First Ladies, most painted by renowned Master Painter, Lawrence Williams (1913-2003).
After that, all of the exhibits focus on the history of Northwestern Arizona and include:
- The Andy Devine exhibit, which displays a collection of Andy Devine memorabilia. He was a local boy who became a movie star in the 1930s.
- The Hualapai Native American Room contains a full-size wickiup brush shelter, pottery, baskets, and other crafts.
- Outdoor exhibits, which include murals, ranching and mining machinery, a mine replica, and a 1923 wooden railroad caboose.
- Exhibits on local ranching and mining.
- Displays that include paintings, photographs, sculptures, crafts, and carved turquoise mined in the Kingman area.
History Of The Mohave Museum
The Mohave Museum of History And Arts walks you through Northwestern Arizona’s pioneer past, the development of the region, and Mohave County’s history in mining of gold, silver, copper, and turquoise.
Founded in 1961, the Mohave Museum of History And Arts began as an archive room in the office of the Kingman Chamber of Commerce. The museum’s first official building, located in the Chamber’s parking lot, was dedicated in 1968. At this time, southwestern artist Roy Purcell became the first museum director and created many of the displays still in use today.
In 1979, the Mohave Museum expanded to add more exhibit space, by the year 2000, the Chamber offices were relocated and its building was removed to make room for additional Museum parking. Then, in 2005, a library was added.
Know Before You Go
- The Mohave Museum Of History And Arts is located at 400 West Beale Street, Kingman, Arizona 86401 in Mohave County just one block from the Powerhouse Visitor Center and Arizona Route 66 Museum and near Mr. D’z Route 66 Diner and the historic Locomotive Park.
- Admission is $4.00 for adults and teens, $3.00 for seniors, and free for children 12 and under with paying adult.
- Open Monday through Friday from 9:00 am to 5:00 pm and Saturdays from 1:00 pm to 5:00 pm. Last admission is at 4:30 pm.
- A paid admission for the Mohave Museum Of History And Arts also grants your admission to the Arizona Route 66 Museum and the Route 66 Electric Vehicle Museum.
- The museum was founded in 1961 by the Daughters of the Pioneers and operated by the Mohave Pioneers Historical Society.
