Arizona!
It is a land of seemingly limitless space and tremendous vistas. Arizona was the last of the 48 adjoining continental states to enter the Union. From its admission on February 14, 1912, until the admission of Alaska and Hawaii in 1959, it was the youngest state.
Arizona's landscape is one of great diversity. Sun-swept mountains and valleys, lofty plateaus, narrow canyons, and awesome stretches of desert make it one of the most beautiful states in the nation. This scenic beauty, coupled with an ideal climate, has made Arizona very popular with tourists.
Imperial Spain and, later, independent Mexico once controlled this land, and there the Native American, Spanish, and Anglo-American cultures met and fused. Although most of the Native Americans now live on reservations and Mexico and Spain long ago relinquished control of the area, traces of Arizona's past still remain. The Native American culture has been preserved on the reservations, and Mexican and Spanish influences may be seen in architectural styles and place-names.
Arizona has undergone great changes since the 19th century, when it was a rough-and-tumble mining and cattle territory. Although it still retains much of the character of the old West for tourists, it is a modern urban and industrial state, with large cities, highly mechanized farms, and rapidly expanding industries. Phoenix is the center of Arizona's largest urban area and the state's capital.
Flagstaff Area Attractions
Flagstaff and the surrounding areas are abundant with attractions. The Grand Canyon is the top area attraction with some 5 million visitors annually. Other popular sites nearby are the dormant volcanos at Sunset Crater National Monument, the Indian ruins at Wupatki and Walnut Canyon, Meteor Crater (the world’s largest), Oak Creek’s red rock canyons and Monument Valley. The San Francisco Peaks attract people all year. Aspen forests sport bright yellow colors in the fall and wild flowers appear each spring. In winter, there is abundant snow. Many recreational activities are found in the city itself. Lowell Observatory, with both historic and modern telescopes, is open to the public. The planet Pluto was discovered at the observatory.
Museum of Northern Arizona
Founded in 1928 as a community effort by a group of Flagstaff citizens, the Museum of Northern Arizona (MNA) is a private, nonprofit institution that was originally established as a repository for Native American artifacts and natural history specimens from the Colorado Plateau. The original founders, zoologist Dr. Harold S. Colton and artist Mary-Russell Ferrell Colton, who were from Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, were dedicated to preserving the history and cultures of northern Arizona. Over its 72- year history in Flagstaff, MNA has evolved into a regional center of learning with collections, exhibits, educational programs, publications, and research projects that serve more than 100,000 people each year. As the only accredited museum within 150 miles of Flagstaff and the only natural history museum within 250 miles, the Museum of Northern Arizona plays a vital role as interpreter of the Colorado Plateau.
Lowell Observatory
Lowell Observatory was the first astronomical observatory in Arizona. In 1894, Dr. Percival Lowell, a mathematician and amateur astronomer from Massachusetts, was one of several astronomers in search of clearer skies through which to observe the planets and stars. Flagstaff, with its dark skies and high elevation was an ideal location. Spurring Dr. Lowell on was the knowledge that Mars would soon be at its closest point to the earth: an ideal time to continue the study of the "Martian" planet more closely. Percival Lowell assembled a small staff, borrowed two telescopes and commenced observations. Two years later, he ordered and installed the specially designed 24-inch Alvan Clark refracting telescope. For many years, the Clark telescope was the major research tool of the Observatory. Percival Lowell used it himself, and his many hours of observing Mars through the Clark Telescope resulted in many drawings of "Mars Globes" that today are considered a piece of history. The Clark Telescope even journeyed to Mexico where Lowell could get an even better view of Mars at its opposition with planet earth. It came back to Mars Hill, where Lowell Observatory is located, in 1897 and that is where it has been ever since. The Clark Telescope is still in use today as part of the observatory's educational outreach program for the general public. Because it was one of the first telescopes of its kind in the late 1800s and early 1900s, it is considered a National Historic Landmark. Today, Lowell astronomers observe at modern facilities on Anderson Mesa, 15 miles south of Flagstaff, where the skies are yet a little darker.
It is the only planet to be discovered in the United States and North America. Other noteworthy discoveries that have taken place at Lowell Observatory include the discovery of the rings of Uranus, and the continuing search and discovery of numerous asteroids, near earth asteroids, comets, Kuiper Belt Objects, and extra-solar planets.
Riordan State Park
The Riordan mansion (actually two adjoining mansions) was built in 1904 for Timothy and Michael Riordan. The Riordan brothers owned the Arizona Lumber and Timber Company, Flagstaff's leading logging enterprise. A tour through the brothers' massive 13,000 square foot home provides insight into the life of a wealthy frontier family in the early 1900's. Its rustic exterior, perhaps Arizona's finest example of Craftsman style architecture, is a striking contrast to its opulent interior of hand-crafted furniture and period antiques. Picnic tables are provided. Visitors can arrange special events or private functions at the park, which is located in the heart of Flagstaff on Riordan Road
An area of vast diversity...
Northern Arizona is an area of stunning vistas, cool clear mountain air and wide open spaces. It is vast, vibrant and diverse. Diverse in landscape, climate and cultures. Let us help you in your exploration and discovery of our Northern Arizona!
Free Relocation Packet
Request our Free Northern Arizona Relocation Package. It's packed full of useful and important information about the Flagstaff, Parks, Williams and Munds Park/Pinewood, Arizona area. Don't move here without it! Remember: we'll send it to you for free and without obligation. Just fill out the form and we will send it right out...
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