Few people know that highway officials abandoned part of Route 66 after traffic from Dustbowl states clogged downtown Flagstaff in the mid-1930s. You’ll uncover the secrets of the original alignment when you put on walking shoes and follow the “Walk This Talk” audio tour. Tracing the little-known original alignment of Route 66, you’ll follow audio instructions for this self-guided walking tour. As the reliable technology steers you through Flagstaff’s Southside Historic District, you’ll stop to hear pre-recorded oral histories about what happened along the way. Hidden messages in street art, competition for lost business, and unsolved murders are some of the stories shared.
Just like the Route 66 motorists of old, you’ll discover something new beyond each turn. Pedestrian signs at locations along the Walk This Talk route notify you when you are at each stop to hear pre-recorded oral histories of Route 66 happenings at specific sites. The self-guided tour begins on the north side entrance at the historic Flagstaff Visitor Center (One East Route 66.)
Want to go where everybody knows your name?
You might recognize the voice of “Cheers” star Ted Danson, welcoming you to Flagstaff when listen to the introduction. Danson spent his formative years in this mountain town while his father served as director of the Museum of Northern Arizona. The tour, narrated by local author Rose Houk, takes about an hour to complete and windups at the corner of Mike’s Pike and Milton Road. Round up some friends and family, bring your smartphones and earbuds and start walking. Earbuds or headphones for your phone will heighten your experience as the downtown ambient noise increases with traffic at the ten stops.