Saving the Osterman Filling Station
How the Hualapai Tribe is working to preserve its history in Peach Springs, Arizona
National Trust for Historic Preservation
Rhys Martin
Osterman Filling Station: Route 66 Sign Arizona by Rhys MartinNational Trust for Historic Preservation
The "Main Street of America"
When Route 66 was created in 1926, it cobbled together existing local and regional roads to create a national thoroughfare that connected towns and cities from the Midwest to the Pacific Ocean.
It brought tourism and economic development to communities that might otherwise have faded into obscurity.
Traveling to Peach Springs, Arizona
Peach Springs was a railroad town situated on the Atchison, Topeka and Santa Fe Railway. Route 66 brought cars and families through town, both during the Dust Bowl migration in the 1930s and the era of post-World War II leisure travel to the Grand Canyon.
Osterman Filling Station: Postcard by Mike L. Ward CollectionNational Trust for Historic Preservation
Preparing the way
In 1929, the Ostermans built a service station to serve the increasing traffic. The Swedish immigrant family ordered it as a concrete block kit from the Sears, Roebuck and Co. catalog.
The Ostermans in the 1930 census
The station offered fuel and a full range of services. It was one of several such stations in Peach Springs during the period after World War II which was know as the boom years. The Ostermans also operated a nearby motel and campground.
The station continued to operate under various owners, even after the construction of an interstate highway that bypassed Peach Springs in 1979, reducing traffic on Route 66. The business served the community through the 1990s.
Tap to explore
Osterman Filling Station: AZDOT Map (1935) by AZDOTNational Trust for Historic Preservation
A 1935 Arizona Department of Transportation map shows Peach Springs and its proximity to the Hualapai reservation.
Osterman with visible Damage (2022-08-03) by Richard KnottNational Trust for Historic Preservation
After the station’s closure, the Hualapai Tribe purchased the building with hopes to restore it as a representation of their piece in the town’s history.
Hear from Hualapai Tribe members about the importance of the Osterman Filling station in this news clip on Arizona's local news station in July 2023.
Osterman Filling Station: Group Photo (2023-04-20) by Kevin Davidson/Hualapai Planning & Economic Development DepartmentNational Trust for Historic Preservation
Restoration begins
The early stages of the restoration involved removing fuel storage tanks, repairing the roof and foundation, conducting a brownfield assessment, and adopting a historic preservation and development plan.
Osterman Filling Station: Roof Damage Rear (2023-04-20) by Kevin Davidson/Hualapai Planning & Economic Development DepartmentNational Trust for Historic Preservation
Reacting to natural disasters
Restoration efforts stalled due to the COVID-19 pandemic, which had a great impact on Native American communities across the country. Then, in 2021, a microburst storm ripped the roof off of the station, and in 2023 another storm severely damaged an exterior wall.
Many in the greater Route 66 community feared those storms marked the end of the road for the Osterman Station. Thankfully, that wasn't the case. The restoration team stabilized the station and saved it from the brink of collapse.
Osterman Filling Station: Dusk (2024-11-26) by Rhys MartinNational Trust for Historic Preservation
An endangered historic place
In 2023, the National Trust named Osterman to its list of America's 11 Most Endangered Historic Places, which galvanzed the community and drew attention to the importance of this historic site.
Hear from Hualapai Tribe members about the importance of the Osterman Filling station in this news clip on Arizona's local news station in July 2023.
Osterman: Painted Roofline HOPE Crew (2025-04) by Rhys MartinNational Trust for Historic Preservation
HOPE Crew in Peach Springs
In April 2025 the National Trust for Historic Preservation's HOPE (Hands-On Preservation Experience) Crew, in partnership with the Hualapai Tribe kicked off a transformative project for the Osterman Filling Station.
Osterman: HOPE Crew in Action (2025-04) by Rhys MartinNational Trust for Historic Preservation
An eight day transformation
Over the course of eight days, HOPE Crew engaged a Native American crew from the Arizona Conservation Corps providing hands-on painting skills.
The HOPE Crew Team in Peach Springs Arizona at the Osterman Filling Station.
Looking to the future
Today, the future of the Osterman Filling Station is promising. The Hualapai Tribe has collaborated with experts to create a comprehensive preservation and reuse plan, with the goal of reopening the station for future generations of travelers and community members.
Osterman: After HOPE Crew (2025-04) by Rhys MartinNational Trust for Historic Preservation
Preparing for the Route 66 centennial and beyond
In 2026, Route 66 will mark its 100th birthday. But this preservation project is not just about restoring a building for that important anniversary, it is about preserving a vital piece of history that tells not only the story of Route 66, but also the Hualapai people.
Learn more about the National Trust for Historic Preservation's campaign to preserve Route 66, sign our petition to advocate for the Mother Road, and then share your Route 66 story with us.
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Rhys Martin is the Preserve Route 66 Manager at the National Trust for Historic Preservation.
The July 2023 HOPE Crew, had the generous support of Benjamin Moore whose donated paint ensured the revitalization effort was possible.
This story is made possible by the generosity of David and Julia Uihlein.
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