Downtown Flagstaff, Arizona facts for kids
Downtown Flagstaff, Arizona is a special part of the city. It has many blocks filled with history and local culture. You'll find unique, independent shops inside beautiful old buildings here.
Where is Downtown Flagstaff?
Flagstaff's historic downtown area is a long, narrow stretch of land. It sits between the Northern Arizona University (NAU) campus to the south and the Museum of Northern Arizona to the north.
Historic Buildings and Design
Many buildings in downtown Flagstaff are very old and have interesting designs. Some have decorative stucco details. Key buildings include the Babbitt Brothers Building from 1888, the train station from 1926, and the Weatherford Hotel. The Weatherford Hotel is famous for its large wrap-around porch and sunroom.
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The train station is now a visitors center. It was once the heart of Flagstaff's economy because the railroad brought so much growth. Both of the city's train depots were fixed up in the 1990s. The main station is built in a style called Tudor Revival architecture. This style was chosen to make it look like a mountain town building. It's considered one of the most important landmarks in Flagstaff.
Across the road from the 1926 station is Santa Fe Plaza. This plaza has the old depot, a bronze statue of a railroad worker called "Gandy Dancer," and an old train engine.
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A few blocks north of the train stations, you'll find Heritage Square. Before it was built, this area was just dirt after some old buildings were torn down. The name of an old theater, the Empress Theater, is even written on an amphitheater in the square. Heritage Square is a popular public space that celebrates the railroad history of Flagstaff. It was designed to make downtown a beautiful area.
The Babbitt Brothers Building, built in 1888, was the city's first two-story building. It has an Italianate architecture style with tall, arched windows. This building was fixed up in the 1990s to look like it did originally. It was a very important department store for nearly 100 years. Many smaller shops nearby depended on it to attract customers. It's located at the corner of North San Francisco Street and East Aspen Avenue.
A block north of Heritage Square is the old Coconino County Courthouse. This building has been the center of local government since 1895. It's built in a style called Romanesque Revival architecture. This style uses heavy stone, large window and door openings, and round-arched windows. The arched entrance is a key feature.
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Just west of Heritage Square is the Weatherford Hotel and the Orpheum Theater. The Orpheum Theater used to have a Neoclassical architecture style. It has been updated over the years, but still has a cool, retro look.
Other building styles in downtown Flagstaff include the Art Deco style of the Federal Building on San Francisco Street.
Downtown Culture
Downtown Flagstaff is a lively and friendly place. It has many local and independent businesses. You'll find a good selection of cafes, bars, and restaurants among the old brick buildings.
Many historic buildings now house cafes. This is partly because of the many young students from NAU who live in Flagstaff. Charly's, a restaurant and bar inside the Weatherford Hotel, is a popular spot for students and locals. The hotel itself became popular again in the 1980s when a cafe opened on its first floor. Today, the Weatherford is a working hotel again and a central part of the downtown area. The Orpheum Theater next to it is a typical small-town theater. It used to be a movie theater, but now it's a concert venue.
Heritage Square is one of Flagstaff's most popular public spaces. It has many features that remind people of the area's past. Downtown Flagstaff's businesses and residents often use themes and images to make the area feel unique. The downtown area truly shows off Flagstaff's culture. When the city was choosing a spot for its visitors center, people insisted it be downtown. They wanted it to "reflect Flagstaff," not a big chain store.
