 Flagstaff's first Anglo settlers arrived in 1876, and gave the city its name by celebrating the centenary of American independence by flying the Stars and Stripes from a towering pine tree. This flagpole became a familiar landmark on the route west, and as the community grew it inevitably became known as Flagstaff. Today, Flagstaff makes an ideal base for travelers, with hotels, restaurants, bars and shops aplenty within easy strolling range of the historic downtown. Every summer, local historians Richard and Sherry Mangum dress in historical costumes and lead walking tours of historic downtown, split in two by the town’s main drag, Santa Fe Avenue, once a section of Route 66.
Among the sights in the downtown district, the original Flagstaff Railroad Depot (1889) and a tribute to the Gandy Dancer--a specialized railroad worker and character of American folk songs. The 1926 railroad depot/visitor's center is located about a block from the original depot. Today only two of the 110 trains continuing to stop at Flagstaff are passenger trains. For maps, restrooms or general information, stop at 1 E. Rt. 66.
Other interesting buildings downtown are The Old Post Office (1917), The Wetherford Hotel (1888 & 1889), Babbitt Brothers Trading Company (1888), The Federal Building, and Heritage Square, built of brick in one of the last empty lots downtown, which includes an open-air amphitheater and plenty of room for socializing.
The Arboretum, located just outside of Flagstaff, is a botanical garden, nature center, and scientific research station. It is home to one of the nation's largest collections of high country wildflowers, with over 2,500 species of plants in the collection. Tours of the 200-acre facility take place each day at 11:00 a.m. and 1:00 p.m.
Established by Percival Lowell in 1894, the Lowell Observatory is a privately-owned complex dedicated to astronomy research and visitor education and the site of two significant discoveries: the former planet Pluto and evidence that the universe is indeed expanding. Many of the facility's telescopes are still in use, and visitors can take part in group tours or browse the visitors center. Lowell's mausoleum can also be found on the grounds. Flagstaff has been declared the first ever "International Dark Sky City" as part of the city's battle with light pollution, in order to preserve the conditions needed for the work being conducted at Lowell Observatory.
The Museum of Northern Arizona was founded in 1928 as a community effort by a group of Flagstaff citizens as a private, nonprofit repository for Native American artifacts and natural history specimens from the Colorado Plateau. One of the best small museums in the West, it is an excellent place to explore the history of Native American pottery, jewelry and crafts--a must-see for anyone who loves Native American art, or who would like to learn more about it or the people who make it. The museum holds annual Hopi (late June) and Navajo (early August) Festivals of Arts and Culture that rival those of Santa Fe. On the third Friday of every month, you can go on a behind-the-scenes tour of the collections.
For a look at the lives of those made rich by the natural resources of the region, check out the Riordan Mansion State Historic Park. Lumber barons Timothy and Michael Riordan married sisters Caroline and Elizabeth Metz, and had this 40-room mansion constructed in 1904 to house their two large families. The two wings are mirror images with a huge common recreation area in the center to provide each family with identical private quarters and a shared living space. The Riordan family donated the home and everything in it to the park system. Guided tours of the mansion and grounds are held at regular times throughout the day--you feel as if the Riordans are at home while you're snooping through their house. |
