Red Cross Garage

This garage was built by Baumann & Hinds in 1916 for the firm of Sweetwood & Towery who named their new business the Red Cross Garage.

It is across the street from the Williams Visitor Center.

The building is 25 x 142 and faced both Railroad and Route 66. The large window in this photo opened into a 14x40 sales showroom. At one time it had entrances on both Railroad Avenue and Bill Williams / Historic Route 66 and Railroad Ave. It also housed a bowling alley at one time. The facade facing Bill Williams/Historic Route 66 has been modified over the years, originally there was a garage door, display windows and a walk-in door.

Many articles about this building say it was built in 2013, but a May 18, 1916 article in the Williams News newspaper announced plans for the construction of the building, and a July 13, 1916 article announced the Red Cross Garage was open for business in the building.

By September 1916 the business was selling both Maxwell and Kissel Kar automobiles. By mid 2017 they had added Dort automobiles to the offerings, for as little as &725.00.

There is a small historical marker between the entrance doors and the window that reads:

Built of native rock with brick facades, this 1913 garage served travelers at the end of the wagon age and beginning of the automobile era. By 1930, automobiles carried more people to the Grand Canyon than did the railroad. The opposite end of this building once housed an early bowling alley.

The Red Cross Garage name was still faintly visible in this 2019 photo. In a ca. 1917 photo the building was what appeared to be a dark red brick and the garage name lettering appeared to be bright white.

The garage was placed on the National Register of Historic Places as part of the Williams Historic Business District in 1984

Photo(s): 2019