Preservation Magazine, Summer 2025

Flash Back: Hackberry General Store near Kingman, Arizona, 2009

During the National Trust’s 75th anniversary year, Flash Back will highlight a place of significance to the organization’s history.

WHY THIS PLACE? Since opening in the 1930s, Hackberry General Store near Kingman, Arizona, has become a fixture of Route 66. It encapsulates the storied highway, from its classic Americana signage to the quirky memorabilia and souvenirs that are for sale inside. The store was a stop on a 2018 National Trust road trip that raised awareness about the importance of Route 66.

Though the route was decommissioned in 1985, it persists within the collective American consciousness and remains a popular road trip destination for thousands of travelers a year. Yet many of the historic stops along the road face threats from neglect or potential redevelopment.

The National Trust is working to change that through its Preserve Route 66 initiative, which includes advocacy, fundraising, and targeted preservation work. In 2007, the organization named the roadway’s historic motels to its list of America’s 11 Most Endangered Historic Places. Historic Route 66 in its entirety was included on the list in 2018. And through recent and current programs such as the Preserve Route 66 Legacy Business Grant Fund, the Preserve Route 66 Grant Fund, Benjamin Moore sponsorships, and HOPE Crew preservation projects, the National Trust is helping to spur economic growth along Route 66, highlight its complex history, and restore its most iconic places for future generations to enjoy.

Hackberry General Store, a historic stop along Route 66, appears in the background, covered in historic signage. An old black car is parked in the foreground.

photo by: Carol Highsmith

Preservation magazine Assistant Editor Malea Martin.

Malea Martin is the assistant editor at Preservation magazine. Outside of work, you can find her scouring antique stores for mid-century furniture and vintage sewing patterns, or exploring new trail runs with her dog. Malea is based on the Central Coast of California.

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