Open Road Bar

by Jon Burch Photography

Title

Open Road Bar

Artist

Jon Burch Photography

Medium

Photograph - Digital Photography

Description

A weathered sign depicts a cowboy riding a horse, with the words "OPEN ROAD COWBOY" prominently displayed. The sign is hung on a wire and is attached to a stone structure, suggesting a rustic or western-themed location.

Williams is west of Flagstaff, Arizona with a population of 3,023 at the 2010 census. It lies on the route of Historic Route 66, Interstate 40, and the Southwest Chief Amtrak train route. It is also the southern terminus of the Grand Canyon Railway, which takes visitors to Grand Canyon Village. There are numerous inns, motels, restaurants and gas stations that cater to the large influx of tourists rather than local residents, especially during the summer and holiday seasons.

Also known as the "Gateway to the Grand Canyon", Williams was the last town on Historic Route 66 to be bypassed by Interstate 40 due to lawsuits that kept the last section of Interstate 40 in Arizona from being built around the town. After legal arguments, the state was required to build three Williams exits, the suits were dropped and I-40 was completed. On October 13, 1984, Interstate 40 was opened around the town and newspapers the next day reported the essential end of US 66. The following year, Route 66 was decommissioned.

Some digital effects were applied to the original image after the photograph was made. No electrons were harmed during the transition.

Image copyright 2024 Jon Burch Photography

Uploaded

May 3rd, 2024

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