U.S. Route 89 (US 89) is a U.S. Highway in the U.S. state of Arizona that begins in Flagstaff and heads north to the Utah border northwest of Page. US 89 is among the first U.S. Highways established in Arizona between November 11, 1926 and September 9, 1927. Until 1992, US 89 started at the international border in Nogales and was routed through Tucson, Phoenix and Prescott between Nogales and Flagstaff. State Route 79 and State Route 89 are both former sections of US 89.
U.S. 89 crossing Glen Canyon
U.S. 89 near Flagstaff
State Route 79, also known as the Pinal Pioneer Parkway, is a 58.40 mi (93.99 km) long state highway in the U.S. state of Arizona. It serves as the main route through the town of Florence, which is also the county seat of Pinal County. Although the highway has been part of the state highway system since at least 1926, it was not designated as SR 79 until 1992. The highway was previously a section of U.S. Route 80 and U.S. Route 89 between Phoenix and Tucson, until both highways were decommissioned in 1977 and 1992 respectively. SR 79 is also the only state highway in Arizona that has a business route, which is SR 79 Business through downtown Florence. SR 79 is also notable for being the location where cowboy western actor Tom Mix died in a car accident on October 14, 1940.
SR 79 Arizona, near Tom Mix Memorial with Mount Lemmon in distance
Tom Mix memorial near Florence, Arizona (32°49′17.4″N 111°12′12.5″W / 32.821500°N 111.203472°W / 32.821500; -111.203472), the site of his death