Photos: U.S. Route 80 through Arizona designated a Historic Road
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Rick Wiley
Photo editor
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Arizona’s US Route 80 was designated a Historic Road by the Arizona State Transportation Board, after consideration of a detailed application submitted Demion Clinco of the Tucson Historic Preservation Foundation. The two-lane highway was predecessor to Interstate 10 across Southern Arizona in early 20th Century. The highway wound through Douglas, Bisbee, Tombstone, Benson, Tucson, Florence, Mesa, Phoenix, and Gila Bend before crossing over the Colorado River at Yuma. By the late 1960s, the completion of Interstate 10 across most of the state doomed many of the historic restaurants, motels, gas stations and tourist stops along U.S. 80. But a resurgence of money and interest in history has led to restoration of many buildings and signs along the way.
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The historic 1915 Ocean-to-Ocean Highway truss bridge over the Colorado River in Yuma Ariz. Aug. 17, 2007.
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The sign for Riviera Motor Lodge, 515 W. Miracle Mile, Tucson.
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This is an undated (circa 1956) aerial of downtown Tucson, Arizona. North Stone Avenue is in the photograph along with the Arizona Daily Star and Tucson Citizen building in the bottom left of the photograph. Also in the photo is the Pioneer Building, upper left, and the Pima County Courthouse, middle right.
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Pueblo Court, Bisbee, 1930s.
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The 1891 Pinal County courthouse is seen before a re-opening ceremony in Florence, Ariz. in 2012.
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Marsh Station Road over Cienega Creek southeast of Tucson on Sept. 11, 2018.
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Crowds at Stone and Alameda in downtown Tucson for the 1951 La Fiesta de los Vaqueros Tucson Rodeo Parade
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Autopia, Phoenix, 1931.
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Gila Station, Gila Bend, 1930s.
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Just off Interstate 10, the Howard Johnson's motor lodge was located on Benson Highway near South Park Avenue on August 14, 1972. The four-mile stretch of the Benson Highway was once a vital thoroughfare before the interstate system was created.
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Expansion of U.S. Highway 84, middle of photo, underway north of Congress St. in September, 1951. U.S. 80 is upper right.
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The new Gilpin Air Field 4,500 foot runway that was just completed at the Freeway Airport can be seen as it extends from the dark strip in the left center of the photograph in July 1958. Individual T hangars, a new administration building and a machine shop were being built. The old Gilpin hangars are on the right and to the left is the railroad and the Casa Grande Highway, now Interstate 10. Prince Road runs down beside the airport on the left and Romero Road cuts across on the right.
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Benson Highway (US 80) looking southeast from just east of 6th Ave. in 1956. The famous Sage and Sand Motel is now the Lazy 8 Motel, just east of the Silver Saddle Restaurant. The Desert Lodge, at left, is no longer. Most-likely it was sacrificed for Interstate 10.
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Spanish Trail Motel on Benson Highway, circa 1967.
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Mr. G's Diner, at 3329 E. Benson Highway, pulled travelers in regularly when Benson Highway was Tucson's main artery coming in from or toward the eastern part of the state. The building still stands, now known as Cindy Lou's Cafe. (
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This white-border postcard shows Bisbee's famous Copper Queen Hotel.
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Traffic cruises by the neon sign for the Tucson Inn, 143 W. Drachman.
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Businesses along Main Street and Subway Street in Bisbee, Ariz., includes Bisbee Grand Hotel.
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The familiar Gadsden Hotel in downtown Douglas, which opened in 1907, was designed by architect Henry Trost and also served as a meeting place for the businessmen of the day.
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The Western Hotel sign, 3218 E. Benson Hwy. Tucson, partially lit just as the sun goes down.
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Downtown Tucson buildings on Pennington Street looking west from Scott Ave towards Stone Ave, ca. 1960. Pennington Drugs is at left.
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The Tally Ho Tavern and Cocktails at 546 N. Stone Ave., in Tucson, in August, 1968.
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Based on the sign for the Country Club Swimming Pool in the background, Ruthie's Drive-Inn restaurant was in the vicinity of 2627 Benson Highway on August 14, 1972. Bypassed after Interstate 10 was opened in 1969, businesses on the Benson Highway struggled to survive. The four-mile stretch was once a vital thoroughfare before the interstate system was created.
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Cleaning those bugs off truck windshields is no easy task at the TTT Truck Terminal at Craycroft Road and Benson Highway in Tucson in June, 1966.
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Looking the part: A trucker in a T-shirt eats a sandwich in the restaurant at the TTT Truck Terminal at Craycroft Road and Benson Highway in Tucson in June, 1966.
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Employees shamelessly push the TTT mascot to the front at the TTT Truck Terminal at Craycroft Road and Benson Highway in Tucson in June, 1966.
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Horseshoe Cafe in Benson, 1940s.
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Hargis Coiurt, Bisbee, 1997
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Buckhorn Baths, Mesa, 1940.
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Kiva Lodge, Mesa, 1997.
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Diving Girl neon sigh, Mesa.
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Undated photo of U.S. 80 (Oracle Road) north of Tucson.
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Miracle Mile, Tucson, 1957
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Thunderbird Lodge, Tucson, 1958
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Bow and Arrow Motel in Yuma, 1997.,
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Bird Cage Theater, Tombstone.
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The Crystal Palace, Tombstone.
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Tucson Inn on Miracle Mile, Tucson
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Amazon Motel on Miracle Mile, Tucson
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TTT Truck Stop on Benson Highway in Tucson.
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Oracle Road, Tucson.
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Quail Inn on Oracle Road, Tucson.
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The University of Arizona Marching Band performs during the Homecoming Parade as they walk south along North Stone Avenue in October 1955.
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This is a 1950 photo of North Oracle Road bridge at the Rillito River.
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Fannie and Isidore Wiener in front of the La Siesta Hotel, Tucson, circa 1942.
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A combination of exterior lights and failing neon tubes on the Frontier Motel sign, 227 W. Drachman, part of the city's neon culture, Wednesday, May 3, 2017, Tucson, Ariz.
Rick Wiley
Photo editor
As featured on
The historic highway was the predecessor to Interstate 10.
RTA expects a funding shortfall to affect Tucson transportation projectsFor Star subscribers: The city of Tucson will have to make up for a $150 million shortfall in Regional Transportation Authority revenues.
