Riordan Mansion State Historic Park facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Riordan Mansion State Historic Park |
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Riordan Mansion State Historic Park
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 Riordan Mansion State Historic Park
Location in Arizona
Riordan Mansion State Historic Park
Location in the United States
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| Location | Coconino, Arizona, United States |
| Nearest city | Flagstaff |
| Area | 5 acres (2.0 ha) |
| Elevation | 6,900 ft (2,100 m) |
| Established | 1978 |
| Visitors | 29,268 (in 2022) |
| Governing body | Arizona State Parks |
The Riordan Mansion State Historic Park is a cool historic spot in Flagstaff, Arizona. It's right next to Northern Arizona University. This park lets you step back in time and see how a very important family lived over 100 years ago.
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Discovering the Riordan Mansion
This special park is home to a huge house called a duplex. It was built for two brothers, Timothy and Michael Riordan. These brothers were very successful in the lumber business. They were known as "lumber barons" because they owned large timber companies.
Who Were the Riordan Brothers?
Timothy and Michael Riordan were brothers who married sisters, Caroline and Elizabeth Metz. They were part of a powerful family in Arizona Territory (before Arizona became a state). The Riordan family helped build up Flagstaff and northern Arizona. They were involved in many important businesses like lumber, railroads, cattle, and banking. They even played a role in local government.
Building a Grand Home
The Riordan brothers worked together to build their amazing mansion in 1904. At that time, Arizona was still a territory, not yet a state. The house is huge, about 13,000 square feet! It was designed as two separate homes, each about 6,000 square feet, connected by a big common room. This meant each family had their own space but could easily gather together.
The Architect's Vision
A famous architect named Charles Whittlesey designed the Riordan homes. He also designed the El Tovar Hotel at the Grand Canyon. You can see similar styles in both buildings. For example, both have large stone arches on their porches. The mansion also uses natural materials like log planks, wood shingles, and local stone. These materials help the house blend in with the beautiful Arizona landscape.
History of the Park
The Riordan Mansion became a State Park to protect its history and share it with everyone. It took a lot of effort to make this happen.
Becoming a State Park
On November 15, 1978, the Arizona State Parks officially took over the Riordan homes. They also received most of the original furniture and five acres of land around the houses. This was a big step to preserve this important piece of history.
Opening to the Public
The park first opened its doors to visitors on August 4, 1983. At first, only the Timothy A. Riordan (east) side of the house was open. This was thanks to the hard work of the family owner, Robert Chambers, and the Arizona State Park team. Later, on April 27, 2002, the Michael J. Riordan (west) side also opened for tours. This allowed visitors to explore both parts of the unique duplex mansion.
Keeping the Park Open
In 2010, the park faced a challenge and was almost closed due to state budget cuts. However, a group of local volunteers stepped up! They formed the Riordan Action Network Group. This group works hard to raise money to keep the park open and pay its staff. Today, the park relies on these dedicated volunteers to help maintain the mansion and lead educational tours for visitors.
