| Flagstaff is northern Arizona's biggest city. North of Montezuma Castle, settlers first arrived there in 1876. That fourth of July, they raised an American flag. A pine tree served as their pole, or flagstaff. With an elevation of nearly 7,000 feet, Flagstaff nestles in the foothills of the San Francisco Peaks, the state's tallest mountains. Just north of Flagstaff is Humphrey's Peak, the state's highest point. The Flagstaff area is surrounded by the world's largest stand of Ponderosa Pine. |
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History of Flagstaff
Surrounded by dense forests (now called the Coconino National Forest) at an elevation of 7,000 feet, the region has long been, and remains a center for logging. In 1882, the Atlantic and Pacific Railroad (now the Santa Fe) arrived and assured the community's growth.
Shortly thereafter, local interest in nearby Indian ruins (now encompassed within Walnut Canyon National Monument) gained momentum. These ruins became more well known when lumber magnate Michael Riordan, who was recuperating from tuberculosis in Flagstaff, took a personal interest in them.
Riordan was probably the best known and most self-publicized of those pothunters who explored the ruins and removed artifacts over the next 25 years. But as early as 1891, local citizens became alarmed at the scale of looting and destruction of ruins, which occasionally involved dynamiting walls and rooms to allow for more light.
The Flagstaff Chamber of Commerce, recognizing the tourist value of the ruins, denounced the mutilation of the cliff dwellings in 1891, but no formal steps were taken to protect the ruins until they became part of the San Francisco Mountain Forest Preserve in 1904.
While a timber-based economy still prevails in the Flagstaff area, since 1900, the tourist industry, augmented by the area's scientific developments and the proximity of Glen Canyon Dam, are added economic assets.
Flagstaff Today
Flagstaff is a small city located in the north central Arizona, situated at the base of San Francisco Peaks, a 12,633-foot-high dormant volcano. Flagstaff is located at the intersection of US Interstate 40 and US Interstate 17, making it a hub for transport in the Northern Arizona area.
| Flagstaff is the county seat of Coconino County, the second largest in the United States, which encompasses the winter ski resort, Arizona Snow Bowl, Meteor Crater, the Painted Desert and Oak Creek Canyon. Flagstaff stands as the gateway to many nearby national parks and monuments -- Sunset Crater National Monument, Walnut Canyon National Monument, Wupatki National Monument, Grand Canyon National Park, and Petrified Forest National Park. |  |
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In downtown Flagstaff are a number of art galleries and shops that specialize in Indian jewelry. Visitors may browse in the Flagstaff Art Barn and the Pioneers' Historical Museum or enjoy an evening with the Flagstaff Symphony Orchestra. On top of Mars Hill, west of downtown, is Lowell Observatory, founded by Percival Lowell in 1894. Visitors there can see the historic 24-inch Clark refractor telescope, through which Lowell made his observation of Mars. Today, the observatory operates eight telescopes and maintains an active staff of astronomers.
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The Museum of Northern Arizona, just north of town, is both a research center and a museum. Its exhibits illustrate northern Arizona's natural history, archaeology, and geology, as well as Navajo and Hopi culture. |
Hotels found in the Flagstaff Area
Listed below are some hotels you might stay in if you were to visit the Flagstaff area.
| Quality Inn East Lucky Lane: 0.3 miles away from the city of Flagstaff, this hotel features scenic views of the San Francisco Peaks. It's close to Northern Arizona University, Historical District, shops, and restaurants. There is also a gateway to the Grand Canyon, Page, Lake Powell and Sedona. |
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Econo Lodge: Econo Lodge was built in 1991 and was recognize for exceptional guest services & hotel cleanliness. All in-door facility with a southwestern touch. Econo Lodge is located in Flagstaff, Arizona, 80 miles from the Grand Canyon. |
| Residence Inn by Marriott: This hotel features mountain views, clean pine-scented air, small town charm, and close proximity to the Grand Canyon and Sunset Crater National Monuments. Other amenities include: Complimentary daily hot breakfast buffet, spacious studio & two-bedroom suites, fully-equipped kitchen in every room, and a fireplace in most suites. |
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Holiday Inn Flagstaff: A full service hotel with a restaurant for breakfast, dinner, and room service where kids eat free. On-site is an indoor/outdoor pool and a Jacuzzi. Close to all that Flagstaff has to offer. The rooms include in-room movies, irons, ironing boards, and coffee makers. |
| Red Roof Inn Flagstaff: Red Roof Inns are conveniently located to attractions, businesses and are accessible from major interstates and highways. In addition, there are several restaurants and activities surrounding this inn to make your stay more enjoyable. |
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Interesting things to do while in Flagstaff
Here are some activities you might consider doing if you were to visit Flagstaff.
| The Arboretum at Flagstaff: This is a 200-acre botanical garden, research station, and environmental education center located at 7,150 feet above sea level and nestled within the world's largest ponderosa pine forest. There are guided tours daily, 2,500 species of high-elevation plants, over 100 species of birds sighted, and several miles of trails to explore. |  |
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Lowell Observatory: This is a privately owned astronomical research institution located in Flagstaff, Arizona at an elevation of 7,260 feet. The Observatory was founded in 1894 by Boston mathematician Percival Lowell. It's best known for the discovery of Pluto. |
Meteor Crater: 50,000 years ago, a huge meteorite, hurtling at about 40,000 miles per hour, struck the rocky plain of Northern Arizona with an explosive force greater than 20 million tons of TNT. The meteorite, estimated to have been about 150 feet across and weighing several hundred thousand tons, in less than a few seconds, left a crater 700 feet deep and over 4000 feet across. Large blocks of limestone, some the size of small houses were heaved onto the rim.
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Flat-lying beds of rock in the crater walls were overturned in fractions of a second and uplifted permanently as much as 150 feet. Today the crater is 550 feet deep, and 2.4 miles in circumference. Twenty football games could be played simultaneously on its floor, while more than two million spectators observed from its sloping sides. |
| Walnut Canyon: Hike down into Walnut Canyon and walk in the footsteps of the people that lived there over 900 years ago. Under limestone overhangs, the Sinagua built their homes. Come out and see millions of years of history unraveled in the geology of the rocks. |  |
Riordan Mansion State Historic Park: Completed in 1904 in the Arts and Crafts style of architecture, the historic mansion is expansive, with over 40 rooms and 13,000 square feet of living area and servant's quarters. A tour guide will lead you through this richly furnished home, filled with original artifacts, Stickley furniture, and many other personal possessions of the Riordan families.
