During the heyday of Route 66, dozens of signs along the highway encouraged travelers to visit the Jack Rabbit Trading Post at Joseph City.

Joseph City

Joseph City, 13 miles east of Holbrook, is the oldest Mormon settlement in Arizona. It  was named for Mormon prophet Joseph Smith. 

The community was  established in March 1876 as Allen's Camp. It became St. Joseph in 1878 and was then renamed Joseph City in 1923 to avoid confusion with St. Joseph, Mo. 

The unincorporated town of Joseph City has few remaining Route 66 commercial sites and gets little attention from roadtrippers. But it's worth rolling through on old 66  to see this pleasant community.

The most notable landmark is the nearby Jack Rabbit Trading Post established in 1949 by a guy named James Taylor. He took over a former snake farm and went with a  jackrabbit theme.

The trading post promoted itself with signs as far east as Springfield, Mo., along Route 66. By the time travelers got to Arizona, they were exposed to dozens of billboards with a red jackrabbit on bright yellow signs.

The "Here It Is" billboard at the Jack Rabbit Trading Post has become an  iconic photo for Route 66 enthusiasts. 

The trading post at one time boasted of being the "Best known Trading Post in the Southwest."

Jack Rabbit Trading Post is operated by Cindy and Tony Jacquez. Her parents and grandparents also ran the trading post before it was bypassed by Interstate 40.

The trading post celebrated its 70th anniversary July 6, 2019. The Mr. Rabbit mascot is popular for photo ops. 

Saddle up on Mr. Rabbit for a memorable Route 66 selfie.

Founded: 1876
Elevation: 5,043
Population: 1,465

​Next stop is Standing on a Corner of Winslow, Arizona:
http://www.ontheroadarizona.com/winslowroute66.html

A car repair garage in Josephy City is among 200 automobile-related buildings on Route 66 in Arizona, according to a 2012 survey of 900 properties.

This unnamed shop was not open but asks picture takers to donate $1.

This red brick home was built in 1910, two years before Arizona statehood.

Jack Rabbit Trading Post is full of Route 66 merchandise, including items with the Jack Rabbit logo. Train buffs can check out the train schedule computer.

The Route 66 ruins of Ella's Frontier Trading Post, which Ella Blackwell acquired in 1955. The structure west of Joseph City was dismantled in 2020.

This gas station near the old Jack Rabbit Trading Post is out of business just off Interstate 40 at Exit 269.