kids encyclopedia robot

Railroad Addition Historic District (Flagstaff, Arizona) facts for kids

Kids Encyclopedia Facts
Railroad Addition Historic District
Flagstaff-Hotel-Monte-Vista2.jpg
Hotel Monte Vista
Lua error in Module:Location_map at line 420: attempt to index field 'wikibase' (a nil value).
Location Roughly bounded by Santa Fe RR tracks, Agassiz and Beaver Sts., Birch and Aspen Aves., Flagstaff, Arizona
Area 17.8 acres (7.2 ha)
Built 1883 (1883)
Architect Underwood, Gilbert Stanley; Et al.
Architectural style Early Commercial, Romanesque, Classical Revival
MPS Flagstaff MRA (AD)
NRHP reference No. 83002989 (original)
86001360 (increase 1)
97001086 (increase 2)
Quick facts for kids
Significant dates
Added to NRHP January 18, 1983
Boundary increases June 17, 1986
September 5, 1997

The Flagstaff Railroad Addition Historic District is a super important part of the city's history! It's special because it's connected to the old Atchison, Topeka and Santa Fe Railway and the famous U.S. Route 66. This area shows how Flagstaff grew up around the railroad.

The original part of the district was near the Santa Fe railroad tracks. It was bounded by Agassiz and Beaver Streets, and Birch and Aspen Avenues. Later, the district was made bigger two times. This added nine more buildings along Phoenix Avenue and one building at 122 East Route 66.

Discovering Flagstaff's Historic Railroad District

Building Flagstaff's Downtown

Early Flagstaff had some really bad fires. One big fire happened in 1897. After that, the city made a rule. All new buildings in the main business area had to be built from strong materials. They had to use brick, stone, or iron to prevent future fires. This is why many old buildings in Flagstaff look so solid.

Famous People Behind the Buildings

Many buildings in the Railroad Addition Historic District are linked to important business people. These people lived in the late 1800s and early 1900s. One famous person was John W. Weatherford. He built the well-known Weatherford Hotel.

The Babbitt brothers were also very important. Their names were David, George, William, and Charles. They owned many buildings in the district. Thomas E. Pollock, Sr. was another key figure. These people helped shape what Flagstaff looks like today.

Explore Historic Buildings!

Here are some of the most interesting buildings in the Railroad Addition Historic District. Each one has a unique story!

Notable buildings in the Railroad Addition Historic District
Name Year Built Architectural Style Comments
Flagstaff 1926 Depot
Flagstaff-1926-depot
Santa Fe Depot 1926 Building, 1 East Route 66, Flagstaff, AZ
1926 Revival Tudor This building was made during the busy 1920s. Today, it's a symbol of Flagstaff. It's now the Amtrak station and Visitor Center.
McMillan Building
Flagstaff-McMillian-Bldg
McMillan Building, Northwest corner of Route 66 and Leroux St., Flagstaff, AZ
1886 This hotel was built using local stone and bricks. A bank was located on its corner.
Raymond Building
Flagstaff-Raymond-Bldg
Ramond Building, 9 N Leroux St, Flagstaff, AZ
1911 Dr. Raymond was one of Flagstaff's first doctors. The building has Moencopi sandstone around its door.
Loy Building
Flagstaff-Loy-Bldg
Loy Building, 15 N Leroux St, Flagstaff, AZ
1897 Mr. Loy was a lawyer in Flagstaff.
Citizen's Bank Building
Flagstaff-Citizen's-Bank
Citizen's Bank Building, 17 N Leroux St, Flagstaff, AZ
1903 This building was made from Moencopi sandstone.
Flagstaff Telephone Exchange
Flagstaff-Telephone-exchange
Flagstaff Telephone Exchange, 23 N Leroux St, Flagstaff, AZ
1909 This was the first big telephone office in Flagstaff. John Weatherford built it. It became a restaurant in 1930. It's also made of Moencopi sandstone.
Weatherford Hotel
Flagstaff-Weatherford-Hotel
Weatherford Hotel, 23 N Leroux St, Flagstaff, AZ
First section made 1898 and second section made in 1899 This hotel has been a main building downtown since 1900. It was built with Moencopi sandstone.
Coalter Building
Flagstaff-Coalter-Bldg
Coalter Building, 1 E Aspen Ave, Flagstaff, AZ
1898 This building was Flagstaff's very first Post Office.
Pollock Building
Flagstaff-Pollock-Bldg
Pollock Building, series of shops at 5 E Aspen Ave, Flagstaff, AZ
1900-1903 Flagstaff's first library was on the second floor of this building.
Babbitt Building #1
Flagstaff-Babibitt-Bldg1
Babbitt Building 1, 15 E Aspen Ave, Flagstaff, AZ
1907 Flagstaff's second Post Office was located here. It was built using tufa stone.
Babbitt Building #2
Flagstaff Babbit-Bldg2
Babbitt Building #2, 10 E Aspen Ave, Flagstaff, AZ
1911
Elks Hall
Flagstaff-Elks-Bldg
Elks Hall, 24 N San Francisco St, Flagstaff, AZ
1899 The Elks group used the top floor. The first bowling alley in Flagstaff was in the basement! The ground floor was a drug store.
Coconino Sun Building
Flagstaff-Sun-Bldg
Coconino Sun Building, 111 E. Aspen Ave., Flagstaff, AZ
1926 The Sun Newspaper has been Flagstaff's newspaper since 1891. It moved here to make space for the Monte Vista Hotel.
Bikker Building #1
Flagstaff-Bikker-Bldg-1
Bikker Building #1, 113 E. Aspen Ave., Flagstaff, AZ
1917 This was first a harness shop. It has an unusual pebble siding added later.
Bikker Building #2
Flagstaff-Bikker-Bldg-2
Bikker Building #2, 119 E. Aspen Ave., Flagstaff, AZ
1917 The first J.C. Penny store in Flagstaff was on the first floor. The second floor was an Odd Fellows hall.
Monte Vista Hotel
Flagstaff-Monte-Vista-Hotel
Monte Vista Hotel, 100 N San Francisco St, Flagstaff, AZ
1926 Building this hotel was a huge community effort. In 1926, people raised $200,000 in just 60 days!
Riordan Building
Flagstaff-Riordan
Riordan Building, 106 N. San Francisco St., Flagstaff, AZ
1917 Neoclassical This was Flagstaff's third Post Office.
Babbitt Brothers Building
Flagstaff-Babbit-Brothers
Babbitt Brothers Building, 73 E Aspen Ave, Flagstaff, AZ
1888 This was originally a department store. It has been made bigger many times. It was restored to its original look in 1990.
Babbitt's Garage
Flagstaff-Babbitt-Garage
Babbitt's Garage, 175 N San Francisco St, Flagstaff, AZ
1915 The Babbitt brothers built this garage for cars. They used reinforced concrete, which was new for the area.
Masonic Temple
Flagstaff-Masonic-Temple
Masonic Temple, 105 E Birch Ave, Flagstaff, Arizona
1917 The upper floor held the temple. The ground floors and basement were rented out.
Federal Building
Flagstaff-Federal-Bldg
Federal Building, 114 N San Francisco St, Flagstaff, AZ
1936 Federal Modern style This was Flagstaff's fifth Post Office.
Hawks Building
Flagstaff-Hawks-Bldg
Hawks Building, 14 N San Francisco St, Flagstaff, AZ
1897
Nackard Building
Flagstaff-Nackard-Bdg
Nackard Building, 15 N San Francisco St, Flagstaff, AZ
1922 This was the location of Flagstaff's fourth Post Office.
Brannen Building #3
Brannen-Building-3
Brannen Building #3, 106 Route 66, Flagstaff, AZ
1887 This building housed the town's first doctor, D. J. Brannen. He had his office and drug store here.
Brannen Building #5
Flagstaff-Brannen-Building-5
Brannen Building #5, 102 Route 66, Flagstaff, AZ
1883 P.J. Brannen was the first store owner to start a business in Flagstaff. The building burned once but was rebuilt using its original stones.
Vail Building
Flagstaff-Vail-Bldg
Vail Building, 3 N San Francisco St, Flagstaff, Arizona
1888 Art Deco Many of Flagstaff's first businesses were saloons. They served railroad workers. The building was made of brick, but covered in stucco in 1939.
Donahue Building
Flagstaff-Donahue-Bldg
Donahue Building, 22 Route 66, Flagstaff, AZ
1888 This was originally a saloon. It was owned by Sandy Donahue, a very colorful person in Flagstaff. It was built of brick and covered in stucco in the 1930s.
Santa Fe Depot 1889
Flagstaff-1889-Depot
Santa Fe Depot 1889, Route 66, Flagstaff, AZ
1889 This was Flagstaff's first train depot. A wooden depot burned down in 1886. This building is made of Moencopi sandstone.
kids search engine
Railroad Addition Historic District (Flagstaff, Arizona) Facts for Kids. Kiddle Encyclopedia.