1948 Map of Williams

About this map

The Atchison Topeka and Santa Fe railroad serves as the primary corridor through this Northern Arizona landscape, paralleled by the iconic Route 66. This transit network connects several high-desert and mountain settlements, including the western hub of Kingman and the rail town of Seligman. The map documents a complex overlay of administrative boundaries and federal lands, from the Hualpai Indian Reservation to the protected reaches of the Kaibab National Forest and Prescott National Forest. To the north, the terrain drops toward the Grand Canyon and the eastern arm of Lake Mead within the Boulder Dam Recreational Area. This 1948 compilation provides a detailed view of the regional infrastructure as it stood just after the Second World War, showing the relationship between early highway travel and the established mountain towns of Williams and Ashfork.