The Williams Historic Business District is significant for its long time close association with the American development of tourism, which in turn became a principal local industry. The reasons for this were that the District straddled the Atchison, Topeka and Santa Fe Railway (now the Southwest Chief) and U.S. Highway 66, two significant national transportation arteries, as well as being at the southern terminus of both rail and highway links to the Grand Canyon. The District is also historically significant because of the role it played in the cycles of opening of the frontier west, from ranching to railroading and lumbering.
The Urban Route 66, Williams was listed on the National Register of Historic places May 19, 1989.
The Williams Historic Business District is architecturally significant because it contains within its boundaries an important selection of late 19th and early 20th Century vernacular architecture.
All of the buildings are two-story or less; most are single-story. Several of the buildings constitute examples of a particular architectural style: the Fray Marcos Hotel with its Renaissance Revival characteristics; the Cabinet Saloon and the Pollock Building made of native dacite as examples of Romanesque Revival, and the Tetzlaff Building, a yellow brick interpretation of VictorianRomanesque.
The boundaries of the District form an irregular area generally bounded by 4th St. on the west, 1st street on east, Grant Ave. on the south, and the Fray Marcos Hotel on the north. It lies in the center of the City of Williams and also includes the businesses associated with the Atchison, Topeka and Santa Fe Railway; U.S. Route 66 runs down the center of the District as Bill Williams Avenue.[1]
Notable buildings
Name
Year Built
Architectural Style
Comments
Fray Marcos Hotel Fray Marcos Hotel, 235 N. Grand Canyon Blvd, Williams, AZ
The Fray Marcos Hotel is one of the most historically significant
buildings in the District because of its long term status as a "Harvey House" and its association with the Santa Fe Railway Co. on its main east-west line to California. It also served the passenger railway business during its heyday when the Grand Canyon was a prime attraction and travel was by rail. Its initial construction began in 1901 when a small curio shop was erected. It was added to for the next 20 years producing one of the few good examples of Renaissance Revival buildings in Arizona[1]
Babbitt-Polson Warehouse Babbitt-Polson Warehouse, NW of Visitors Center, Williams, AZ
Late 1890s
Grain, coal and hardware delivered by Santa Fe Railroad stored here[2]
Rock Building Rock Building, 326 W. Route 66, Williams, AZ
Has survived several fires; the ground floor has served as a drug store, grocery store, dance hall, curio shop, and a meeting hall for Knights of Pythias Lodge[2]
Unknown originally named building Unknown Named Building, 135 W. Route 66, Williams, AZ
One of the oldest buildings along Railroad Ave.; originally two stories, with top floor a hotel; In the 1920s was known as the "Maggie Torrez Mexican Food Restaurant."[1][2]
Tetzlaff Building Tetzlaff Building, 137 W. Railroad Ave., Williams, Az
Originally a saloon and bordello; 8 rooms for prostitutes, had an elegant parlor, and a 2-story outhouse. Had whisky, pool, and poker tables on ground floor. Chinese restaurant, opium den at the back of the building. Its brick construction credited with stopping fires in 1901 and 1903 that burned down "Saloon Row", or this stretch of Railroad Ave[2]
The Cabinet Saloon The Cabinet Saloon, 141 W. Railroad Ave., Williams, Az
One of the oldest buildings in Williams; advertised as "Leading Sporting Resort in Williams"; survived several fires due to stone construction; was used as a bar scene in the 1988 movie Midnight Run[2]
Red Cross Garage Red Cross Garage, 221 W. Railroad Ave., Williams, Az
ca. 1913
Served travelers—both wagons and cars; the opposite end of the building was a bowling alley[2]
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