Part of Our Route 66 Everytown Collection | Kingman Edition
Kingman, Arizona: Turquoise Heartland
From prized robin's-egg blue turquoise to a historic powerhouse and a classic steam locomotive downtown, Kingman has been fueling up Route 66 travelers for generations. Set in the high desert of northwest Arizona, this railroad and highway town keeps the spirit of the Mother Road alive.
Celebrate Kingman's place in Route 66 history with a vintage-inspired tee that honors the towns, landmarks and communities that made the Mother Road legendary.
Part of the Route 66 Everytown Collection: one tee for every town that ever called the road home. Start with Kingman, then collect the entire route.
T-Shirt Details & Features
- Bella+Canvas 3001 unisex tee, true to size (see size charts in product image gallery)
- Solid colors: 100% Airlume combed and ring-spun cotton
- Heather colors: 52% cotton, 48% polyester
- Black Heather: 90% cotton, 10% polyester
- Side seams for structure, tear-away label for comfort
- Printed and fulfilled in the USA
- Free U.S. shipping on orders of $25 or more, applied automatically!
About Kingman, Arizona: Where Rails and Route 66 Meet
Founded in 1882 as a railroad siding near Beale Springs, Kingman was named for Lewis Kingman, an engineer for the Atlantic and Pacific Railroad. The town grew along Beale's Wagon Road, a route that later became part of U.S. Route 66 when the highway was designated in 1926.
Before the neon signs hummed and the chrome bumpers rolled west toward California, the earth beneath Kingman was quietly forging local mineral wealth: it is widely considered the finest, most sought-after turquoise available in the World.
Pulling this brilliant azure rock from the stony vault of the desert, miners note that each stone bears that unmistakable robin’s-egg blue, laced through with a dark matrix like fine webbed lace, standing out against the dusty brown clay with the cheerful defiance of a bluebird in a November fog.
Kingman sits in the Hualapai Valley between the Cerbat and Hualapai mountains. Turquoise mined in the area is prized by collectors and jewelers for its bright blue color, and it remains part of the region's identity today, making Kingman the Turquoise Heartland.
Kingman's best-known Route 66 landmark is the historic Powerhouse, a former power plant that now houses the Arizona Route 66 Museum and the town's visitor center. Across the street at Locomotive Park, the Santa Fe 3759 steam locomotive is a favorite photo stop for road-trippers.
During World War II, Kingman Army Airfield trained some 35,000 soldiers and airmen as one of the largest gunnery schools in the country. The Mohave Museum of History and Arts preserves this history and more of northwestern Arizona's heritage.
Kingman also anchors some of the most scenic driving on the Mother Road, from the long stretch toward Seligman to the winding climb over Sitgreaves Pass to Oatman. Today, Kingman remains a must-stop for anyone exploring Route 66 across Arizona.
Care Instructions
- Machine wash: cold (max 90°F / 30°C)
- Tumble dry: low heat
- Non-chlorine bleach as needed
- Iron or steam: medium heat
- Do NOT dry clean
Bring a piece of Kingman home. Wear a piece of the Mother Road's history. Add this tee to your cart, then explore every Arizona town on Route 66.
The Look
Pair it with denim, boots, a worn trucker cap or anything else that looks better with a little desert dust on it.
The Story
Kingman was built at a crossroads.
Railroad tracks came first. Route 66 followed. Then generations of travelers rolled through town chasing California, the desert, work, freedom or simply whatever waited beyond the next horizon.
Today, Kingman remains one of the places where the old road still feels close. Historic downtown storefronts stand beneath a hard Arizona sky. Vintage signs still mark the way. The desert begins at the edge of town and stretches toward the Black Mountains and beyond.
One town. One story. One more piece of America's Mother Road.
