Show Low: Discover History and Trails

Show Low brings together regional history, trails of varying lengths, and distinctive landmarks. The city tells its story through collections, exhibitions, and buildings; at the same time, a trail and a walking path offer different scales of outdoor activity. When choosing a vacation rental, it may help to first decide whether culture or time outdoors will be the focus of your trip.

Cultural History Between the Museum and the Railroad

The period covered at the Show Low Historic Museum ranges from 1540 to the present. The collection includes historic objects of Indigenous and American origin, photographs, books, archival materials, and artworks related to Arizona’s White Mountain region. Different forms of regional heritage are represented side by side: objects, as well as written and visual materials. This collection offers several ways to explore the region’s history. The exhibit The Last Train to Maverick takes a different narrative approach. It presents stories of logging and railroad towns in eastern Arizona in a railroad exhibit. While the museum collection brings together different types of materials and spans a long period, the exhibit focuses on the history of these kinds of places.

Building History with Specific Dates

The Show Low Jail was built from sandstone quarried north of Show Low in 1935. In June 2018, the jail was moved to the corner of East Huning Street and North 9th Street. Its construction date and later relocation mark two different stages. Construction of the Reidhead Home began in 1911; the house was occupied in December 1914. The start of construction and the move-in date mark different milestones. In 2019, a cabin was moved from 16th Place to a new location next to City Hall and the library. These examples illustrate different historical events: construction, occupancy, and relocation.

Two Trail Lengths for Different Plans

The Buena Vista Trail is 12 miles long and lies along Show Low’s southwestern boundary. Show Low City Park has a 1.1-mile walking path. The two lengths offer a clear comparison for planning: would you like to consider a longer trail route, or would you prefer to allow for a shorter walk? The difference helps you gauge how much outdoor activity you have in mind.

City Facilities and Seasonal Planning

The Frontier Inclusive Playground and Splashpad opened to the public in 2023; it operates seasonally. If you plan a visit, check the operating dates for your travel period before your trip. For families with children, the facility offers a different focus than the museum and historic buildings: play and water rather than collections and local history. The Card Game Bronze Monument is located at the Festival Marketplace. The Show Low Family Aquatic Center was built in 1994 and is operated by the City of Show Low.

Choose a Vacation Rental Based on Your Interests

When searching for a vacation rental in Show Low, it helps to decide on the nature of your stay first. Will your trip focus mainly on regional history and exhibitions, or would you like to make trails an important part of your time outdoors?

Discover More Destinations

Discover more destinations: Winslow, Heber-Overgaard, Kayenta, Pinetop-Lakeside, Holbrook, Snowflake.

Return to the main travel overview: Navajo.