Hubbs’ Water Tank - A Pioneer of Kingman’s Infrastructure

This isn’t a story about the Hubbs House hotel, modernly known as Hotel Beale. This is a story about the importance of preserving Kingman’s first piece of modern infrastructure and the couple that pioneered the city’s future in the late 1800s. 

A Little Backstory

Kingman, Arizona, has always been a town built on grit and entrepreneurial spirit. While it's now known as the heart of historic Route 66, its origins are tied to the Atlantic & Pacific Railroad. The railroad’s construction in the 1880s brought a flood of workers, miners, and travelers to what was then a rugged territory.

It was this influx of people that brought Johanna Wilkinson to the area. Her brother, Tobe Wilkinson, who was working on the railroad, urged her to come and start a boarding house for the hungry workers. Following his request, Johanna and her sister first set up a temporary tent business to cook and serve food.

Around the same time, a young teamster named Harvey Hubbs was in the area, hauling timbers and supplies for the local mines. 

In 1887, Johanna and Harvey married, combining their ambitions. In December 1889, they erected the first permanent structure for Johanna’s tent business: a boarding house named, Hubbs House. The couple lived in the boarding house until their private home was completed in 1891. It was at this home where the next chapter of Kingman's history would be written.

Hubbs’ Home

In the late 1800s, water was a precious commodity in Kingman. Residents had to haul water daily from sources that could be a few miles away. As a dedicated innovator and builder, Harvey Hubbs created a solution for his family. He constructed a water tower on the side of their wood-sheathed adobe, Queen Anne Victorian-style home, making it the very first private residence in Kingman to have running water. It was a revolutionary upgrade that showcased what was possible.

This single innovation was the catalyst Kingman needed. By the early 1900s, the city was getting to be known as the City of Windmills, because almost every property had its own well, windmill, and water tank, a direct result of the Hubbs' ingenuity. The Hubbs' home demonstrated that a reliable water infrastructure was not just a luxury, but a feasible necessity for growth.

Today, the meticulously restored Hubbs’ home is a registered historic landmark that continues to serve the community, housing one of Kingman's Head Start programs. Its legacy of innovation is being preserved as the original water tank is carefully being relocated to the Mohave Museum of History & Arts, where it will stand as a monument to Kingman's pioneer spirit.

Choose Kingman

More than just residents and business owners, Harvey and Johanna Hubbs were innovators whose private ingenuity became a public blueprint for Kingman’s infrastructure and economic growth.

The Hubbs' water tower is one of the most compelling pieces of Kingman's history. It's a powerful symbol of the city's past, demonstrating the vitality of a local water system in attracting new industries and supporting a growing population. 

Today, that same spirit continues to shape Kingman. By preserving and celebrating historical landmarks, the community honors its roots. Choose Kingman and start your new roots here.