This is a list that includes a photographic gallery of some remaining historical buildings, houses, structures and monuments in Kingman, Arizona, some of which are listed in the National Register of Historic Places (NRHP). Also, included are images of the historic Steam Engine #3759, which was built in 1927 for the Santa Fe Railroad.

Brief history

The first people to inhabit the current city of Kingman and its surrounding area were the Anasazi known as the “Ancient Ones,” and their Native American descendants, principally the Hualapai, Havasupai and Mohave tribes.

The first documented exploration of the area by Europeans was that made by the Spaniards led by Marcos de Niza. In 1539, he and his men arrived in the Kingman area in search of gold. The following year Francisco Vásquez de Coronado explored the area as well. Arizona was part of the state of Sonora, Mexico in 1822, however, the settled population by the Mexicans was small. During the California gold rush of 1849, people from the east coast of the United States and Anglo's from Europe began to travel into the area to explore and search for gold. Many of these travelers established homesteads and settled down in the area.

Between 1830 and 1860, the United States nearly doubled the amount of territory under its control. The United States fought against Mexico in what is known as the Mexican–American War. The war ended officially when the 1848 Treaty of Guadalupe Hidalgo was signed. It specified its major consequence, the Mexican Cession of the northern territories of Alta California and Santa Fe de Nuevo México to the United States.Robarts, "Mexican War veterans" pp.1–24

The relations between the new settlers and the Mohaves was a friendly one at first. The Mohaves sold the wild game and other supplies to the travelers. They also acted as guides and messengers between wagon trains. The settlers, however still feared the possibility of an attack by the local natives.

Beale's Wagon Road

In 1857, President James Buchanan appointed Edward Fitzgerald Beale to survey and build a 1,000-mile wagon road from Fort Defiance, Arizona to the Colorado River, on the border between Arizona and California along the 35th parallel. The wagon trail began at Fort Smith, Arkansas and continued through the New Mexico Territory to Fort Defiance. He then continued west over what is now northern Arizona to Camp Beale Springs near the modern City of Kingman. Many settlers used the wagon trail to move to the West. There is a marker in Kingman which indicates the area of the wagon trail which became part of U.S. Route 66 and the route for the Transcontinental railroad.History of KingmanKingman Arizona History

Atlantic & Pacific Railroad Lewis Kingman, a civil engineer, who surveyed and built several thousands of miles of railroad lines. Kingman worked for the Atlantic & Pacific Railroad. In January 1880, Kingman's assignment was to survey and establish a railroad line from Flagstaff, Arizona to the Colorado River via Topock, Arizona. Kingman was in charge of the railroad contract work from Winslow to Beale Springs. In December 1881, Kingman was appointed chief engineer with a full charge of the railroad construction. Much of the length of the line which he established was parallel to Beale's Wagon Trail. The track reached the site of what is now the City of Kingman under his supervision. He chose the area as a station to house railroad construction materials.

Kingman City

The Kingman townsite, named for Lewis Kingman, was designated in 1882. The original Kingman townsite was within the boundaries of what are now First and Sixth, Pine and Golconda streets. Johanna Wilkinson and her sister Francis came to the Kingman territory in the early 1880s. Her brother Tobi, who was working for the railroad, told her that the railroad workers had little food, only what they could get from the land which mostly consisted of rabbits. Tobi urged Johanna to come and cook for the railroad workers because he told she would make "good money." Johanna and Francis hired a teamster to haul their supplies and made the 300 plus mile trip. Once there, they set up a tent directly across from the train station Lewis Kingman had built, and cooking on an iron cast stove, fed the workers who sat on boxes and ate on boards for tables. Business thrived and Johanna and Francis added a wood floor to their restaurant. Learning that the workers were sleeping in the box cars or on the ground, they set up additional tents where they rented cots for the workers to sleep on. As Kingman developed into a mining town, Johanna married Harvey Hubbs and together they built Kingman's first hotel, the Hubbs House. The hotel caught fire nine times thanks to the miners smoking opium and tobacco and in bed. Because water had to be brought in from Peach Springs, there was no water to fight the fires. They built another Hubbs House, the first two-story building in Kingman, and then later the in partnership with Beale, the Beale Hotel which still stands. Harvey and Johanna's home was restored by the city of Kingman and is now on the National Register of Historic Places. Harvey would serve as county sheriff, county treasurer, and owned mines. He introduced Kingman to its first water system. Later, there was Mrs. Smith's lodging house and Mrs. Smith's restaurant located next to Ryan's Saloon. Kingman, which was a railroad town, prospered while many of the towns in Arizona, which were established as mining towns, went into decline after the mines were depleted.

In 1887, votes were taken to determine where the Mohave County seat was to be established and Kingman won. The county seat moved to Kingman and the courthouse offices were located in a two-story frame building, constructed by Orvin Peasley and W.H. Taggart. Kingman was officially incorporated in 1952

Among the early constructed historical properties in Kingman is the Little Red Schoolhouse which was built in 1896. Actor Andy Devine was an alumnus of the school. Also the Saint John's Methodist Episcopal Church which was built in 1917 and styled like an ancient Greek Temple. On March 29, 1939, Clark Gable and Carole Lombard were married there.

Some of the structures in Kingman are listed in the National Register of Historic Places. There are other structures, which according to the "Route 66 in Arizona Survey Report" are eligible to be listed in National Register of Historic Places. The fact that a property is listed in the National Register of Historic Places or that it may be eligible to be listed as such, does not mean that the property is safe from being demolished by its owner. According to Jim McPherson, Arizona Preservation Foundation Board President:

Route 66

Route 66, also known as "The Mother Road", received official designation in 1926, after the government enacted a plan for the national highway which would link Chicago with Los Angeles. During its heyday, Route 66 connected the main streets of rural and urban communities. The route represented an opportunity for hundreds of thousands of people who packed up their belongings with the intention of escaping from the ruining effects of the Dust Bowl in the 1930s. Route 66 passed through a section of Kingman in what once was known as "Front St." and is now known as Andy Divine Ave. It played an important role in the history of Kingman and had a positive impact on the businesses on its path. Though historical, Route 66 lost its official United States Highway designation in 1985.History Highway

The Historic Powerhouse Building in Kingman, which supplied power to Kingman and area mines until Hoover Dam began producing power in the late 1930s, is now home to the Arizona Route 66 Museum.Route 66 Museum

Mohave County Historical Society According to the Mohave County Historical Society, which is located at 400 West Beale Street, its mission is the following:Mohave Museum

Historic properties AT&SF Locomotive #3759 AT&SF Locomotive #3759 – built in 1927 for the Atchison, Topeka and Santa Fe Railway. It is a standard gauge 4-8-4, Northern type, steam railway locomotive. It is on display in Locomotive Park, located between Andy Devine Avenue and Beale Street in Kingman, Arizona. The locomotive was listed in the National Register of Historic Places on May 14, 1986, reference #86001113.AT&SF Locomotive #3759

Historic District The Kingman Commercial Historic District – The district includes the 300 and 400 blocks of the Andy Devine Ave. The architectural styles of the contributing properties include Moderne, Queen Anne, and Mission/Spanish Revival some of which were designed by W. Royal Lescher. The district was listed in the National Register of Historic Places on May 14, 1986, reference #86001153. The Luthy Block was established in 1908.Kingman Commercial Historic District

Buildings The following historic business structures are either listed in the National Register of Historic Places individuallyNational Register of Historic Places NRHP in Kingman or as contributing factors within the Historic Kingman Commercial District.United States Department of the Interior National Park Service National Register of Historic Places Inventory The names posted are the original names used when first built. The Armour and Jacobson Building – built in 1921 and located at 426-430 Beale St. E. E. Armour was a baker and Robert Jacobson, a mining engineer. The building once housed a bakery and an assay office. Mr. Jacobson was consulting for several Mohave County mining companies. Listed in the National Register of Historic Places on May 14, 1986, reference: #86001112. The AT and T Building – built in 1930 and located at Pine and 3rd Sts.. Listed in the National Register of Historic Places on May 14, 1986, reference: #86001114. The Brunswick Hotel – built in 1909 and located at 315 E Andy Devine Ave. (formerly Front Street). It was the first three-story building in the county and surrounding counties in Arizona. Clark Gable is among the celebrities who have stayed in the hotel. Listed in the National Register of Historic Places within the Kingman Commercial Historic District on May 14, 1986, reference: #86001153. The Building on 409 Andy Devine Ave. – built-in 1908 and located at 409 Andy Devine Ave. (formerly Front Street). this building was home to the White Wind Tiger Foundation – Martial Arts establishment. Listed in the National Register of Historic Places within the Kingman Commercial Historic District on May 14, 1986, NRHP Reference Number: 86001153. The Central Commercial Building – built in 1917 and located at 154 N 4th St. It was known as America's most amazing country store when it first opened.Kingman Historic Buildings Listed in the National Register of Historic Places within the Kingman Commercial Historic District on May 14, 1986, reference: #86001153. The Desert Power & Water Co. – built in 1907 and location bounded by AT&SF railroad tracks, Spillway Ln., Park, and 1st Sts.. The oil-fired plant was considered one of the largest steam electric power plants in the Western United States. It had a powerhouse, transformer house and office. It operated until 1938 when the Hoover Dam took over the power supply operations. Listed in the National Register of Historic Places on May 14, 1986, reference: #86001137. The Elk's Lodge#468 – built in 1903 and located at 4th and Oak Streets. The stone used to build the lodge came from the Metcalfe Quarry. Listed in the National Register of Historic Places on May 14, 1986, reference: #86001138. The W. A. Gruninger Building – built in 1921 and located at 424 Beale St. Gruninger & Son built it as an investment property. The first floor was a storefront for rent. The second floor had office space. Listed in the National Register of Historic Places on May 14, 1986, reference: #86001141.