Cowboys And Conductors

The Old West thrives in the historic trails and rails town of Williams, Arizona.

- Leo W. Banks

The northern Arizona town of Williams got off to a fast start after its founding in 1881. With the arrival of the Atlantic & Pacific Railroad (future Santa Fe Railway) the following year, it became a center for mining, ranching and lumber, with saloons, brothels and a few opium dens tossed in.

In 1901, the railroad laid track to the Grand Canyon, adding tourism to its economy. Later, so did the automobile and the advent of cross country travel on Route 66.

But the Grand Canyon Railroad stopped operating in 1968, and in 1984, Interstate 40 allowed travelers to bypass Williams altogether.

With reason to board up and blow away, the town held on.

“We’ve got a lot of grit,” say Mayor John Moore. “We’re a small town with a big heart.”

The most popular attraction today is the Grand Canyon Railway, reopened in 1989. The train departs the Williams Depot every morning for the 65-mile trip to the South Rim. Travelers disembark 300 yards from the canyon and the most spectacular views anywhere.