Flagstaff, Arizona, was originally settled in the 1870s as a railroad and lumber town on the southwestern edge of the Colorado Plateau, amid the ponderosa pines. Now most noted for its proximity to the Grand Canyon, the city offers a tantalizing combination of history and progress. Theodore Roosevelt, the Apollo astronauts, Walt Disney filmmakers, Navajo code talkers and Pluto-discoverer Clyde Tombaugh all feature in the area's fascinating past. Join authors Kevin Schindler and Michael Kitt as they relate the trials and triumphs that have given this town its charm, from the tumultuous days of the Wild West to the fast-paced twentieth century.
This is the story of Flagstaff, Arizona, during the 1880s, when the railroad came and assured the new town's continued growth. The precursor to Mountain Town (page 16).
Flagstaff, Arizona, was originally settled in the 1870s as a railroad and lumber town on the southwestern edge of the Colorado Plateau, amid the ponderosa pines. Now most noted for its proximity to the Grand Canyon, the city offers a tantalizing combination of history and progress. Theodore Roosevelt, the Apollo astronauts, Walt Disney filmmakers, Navajo code talkers and Pluto-discoverer Clyde Tombaugh all feature in the area's fascinating past. Join authors Kevin Schindler and Michael Kitt as they relate the trials and triumphs that have given this town its charm, from the tumultuous days of the Wild West to the fast-paced twentieth century.
On July 4, 1876, members of the Second Boston Party made camp at Antelope Spring on their way to California. To celebrate the country's centennial, the men prepared a ponderosa pine tree by stripping it of its branches and creating a flagpole. With the arrival of the Atlantic and Pacific Railroad in 1882, this "flag staff" was once again discovered. The area was growing in population, so it became necessary to establish a post office. Many names were proposed for the new town, such as "Antelope City" and "Flagpole," but the name "Flag Staff" fit best. As an oasis in the middle of the southwest desert, Flagstaff has been a hub for many attractions surrounding the city, prompting visitors to send news of their experiences via a picture postcard. Many of the cards in this volume have messages and postmarks that help show a glimpse of what life was like in Arizona's High Country.
Permanent settlers began arriving at the village of Flagstaff around the 1820s, drawn by its advantageous location along the Dead River floodplain and the availability of waterpower at the outlet to Flagstaff Pond. In 1923, the Maine legislature passed a bill condemning a 25-mile section of the upper Dead River Valley to inundation, causing the eventual permanent flooding of the villages of Flagstaff, Dead River, and Bigelow. The bill authorized the construction of a dam at the river narrows at Long Falls and the subsequent creation of Flagstaff Lake. The properties in these towns were obtained by the process of eminent domain, and residents were forced to relocate. In the spring of 1950, Flagstaff Lake was officially created when the gates in Long Falls Dam were closed. It remains a controversial project today.
Each hike features an individual trail map, elevation profile, and at-a-glance information, helping readers quickly find the perfect trip. Sized to fit in a pocket, the book's detailed trail descriptions will help readers find their way on and off the trail. Driving directions and GPS trailhead coordinates will help with navigating the myriad of unnamed roads. The trails covered range from those best suited to the novice, families, experienced hikers, or backpackers.
During the 1960s and early 1970s, northern Arizona played a critical role in fulfilling President Kennedy's bold challenge of sending humans to the moon. From the rocky depths of the Grand Canyon to lofty cosmic views from Flagstaff's dark skies, northern Arizona was ideal for activities ranging from moon buggy testing and geology training to lunar mapping and mission simulation. Every astronaut who walked on the moon, from Neil Armstrong to Gene Cernan, prepared for his journey in northern Arizona, and all used maps created by Flagstaff artists to navigate their way around the lunar surface. This book captures the spirit of these pioneers with stunning images from NASA, the US Geological Survey, and others.
This impressive volume on Arizona mining covers many historical aspects from mines to minerals to transportation and extraction methods. Thousands of miles of railroads were built in Arizona to sustain mining operations that formed the crux of the territory's and later the state's economy. Hundreds of towns in Arizona owed their longevity or in many cases their ephemeral existence based upon the productivity of the local mines. Extensive mapping of the territory was undertaken, not specifically for settlement but for mineral discoveries and for ensuring the ease of extraction from the ground to the market. Mining captivated the Native Americans, Spanish, Mexicans and later the great influx of American miners and pioneers who arrived in Arizona after the Gadsden Purchase of 1854. Since then, Arizona's economy and community has greatly benefited from mining enterprises resulting in heightened employment opportunities both mining related and supported along with an improved infrastructure of roads, railroads, bridges and dams, hospitals, schools, cultural and civic centers. Mining has also influenced state tourism and recreation as many of the forest service roads and highways were built for the purpose of connecting mines to refining facilities and on to market. Tourist destinations including the towns of Ajo, Bisbee, Jerome and Prescott, would not have their aesthetically appealing store fronts and town layout were it not for revenue generated from the local mining operations. Gem and mineral shows across the state including the annual Tucson Gem & Mineral Show and the Quartzite Show generate millions of dollars directly benefiting the hospitality industry and local and regional attractions. Over 250 mining related images appear in this volume to represent Arizona's place as one of the great mining centers and mineral producers in the world. This volume is a compilation of 105 articles published under the heading of "Mine Tales", a Monday column in the Arizona Daily Star. Broken down into three physiographic provinces, Arizona has a diverse mineral content that has enabled it to be at the forefront of the mining industry in the United States and the world. 9 x 12 inches, 160 pages.
