A life-size bronze statue of prominent Route 66 author and advocate Jim Hinckley will be dedicated on May 27 in downtown Kingman, Arizona.
The event will be part of a block party from 3 to 10 p.m. to present a public arts project, “Kingman Tours: A Walkabout with Jim Hinckley.” That day also will be proclaimed as National Road Trip Day in Kingman.
The event will be on Andy Devine Avenue (aka Route 66) between Third and Fifth streets.
Kingman Main Street said this about the project:
A Walkabout Kingman with Jim Hinckley involves an interactive, self-guided tour of significant sites along Route 66 and in historic downtown Kingman – all beginning with a life-sized bronze sculpture of Mr. Hinckley himself.
Jim Hinckley is an internationally acclaimed author, historian, and tour guide specializing in Route 66 based right here in Kingman. Through this project, Kingman Main Street wishes to recognize Hinckley’s contributions to our community.
KMS has commissioned Arizona-based J. Anne Butler, an experienced figurative bronze sculptor to create a sculpture piece to be placed at the historic Kingman Train Depot at 4th Street and Andy Devine. This site would serve as the first stop of several distinct interactive downtown walking tours, with virtual guidance and narration by Hinckley.
Here’s a brief Instagram video of Butler’s mockup of the statue:
Hinckley himself weighed in on what it was like to see his own likeness:
Mr. Hinkley was correct when he said that it’s ” Weird. Odd.” to have a statue being made of himself.