| The Town"Old Bill Williams" was a solitary mountain man and master fur trapper who traveled throughout most of the Rocky Mountain West from 1825 to 1849. The town of Williams, Bill Williams Mountain, and the Bill Williams River are named after him.
When the Santa Fe Railroad Line came to Williams in 1882, the town became a center for the railroad, ranching and lumber industries. By the turn of the century, Williams was rough and rowdy, dotted with saloons, brothels and gambling houses.
By 1926 US Highway 66 was established through Williams, taming the wild old frontier town to the charming small town of today. But progress continued, and by 1970 nearly all of Route 66 was replaced by modern highways. Now you can meet wonderful "salt of the earth" people, eat great Americana diner food and stay at historically preserved old hotels when you hit the road and recreate the Fabulous Fifties on Route 66.
And speaking of traveling, what's the most stylish and historically accurate way to travel from Williams to the Grand Canyon? On the Iron Horse, of course. Here's your chance to travel via restored Pullman pulled by real steam engine or vintage diesel locomotive. You'll see a bit of the Old West as you're entertained by cowboys, strolling musicians and old-fashioned train robbers. The train departs Williams at 9:30am, and returns from the South Rim at 5:30pm.