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 |
| Area | 5 acres (2.0 ha) |
| Elevation | 6,900 ft (2,100 m) |
| Established | 1978 |
| Governing body | Arizona State Parks |
Riordan Mansion State Historic Park is a special historical place in Flagstaff, Arizona. It is located in the Kinlichi Knoll neighborhood. The park is right next to Northern Arizona University. This park protects a very old and interesting house.
About Riordan Mansion
This park shows off the huge home of two brothers, Timothy and Michael Riordan. They were important in the lumber business. The brothers married two sisters, Caroline and Elizabeth Metz. The Riordan family helped build Flagstaff and northern Arizona. They were involved in many things. These included lumber, railroads, raising cattle, banking, and local government.
Building the Mansion
The Riordan brothers worked together to build their big house. They finished it in 1904. At that time, Arizona was still a territory. The house is very large, about 13,000 square feet. It was designed as two separate homes. Each family had their own 6,000 square foot side. A large common room connected the two parts of the house.
Charles Whittlesey was the architect who designed the Riordan homes. He also designed the famous El Tovar Hotel at the Grand Canyon. You can see similar designs in both buildings. For example, they both have big stone arches at the corners of their porches. The homes also use natural materials. These include log planks, wood shingles, and local stone. These materials help the house blend in with the surrounding landscape.
The Park Today
The Riordan homes and their contents became a State Park. This happened on November 15, 1978. The park also received 5 acres of land around the houses. This was after more than a year of planning.
The park first opened to the public on August 4, 1983. Only the Timothy A. Riordan side of the house was open then. Later, on April 27, 2002, the Michael J. Riordan side also opened. Now, visitors can take self-guided tours of both sides.
The park faced a challenge in 2010. It was almost closed because of state budget cuts. However, its agreement with Arizona State Parks was renewed. This was on the condition that the park could fund itself. A group of local volunteers, called the Riordan Action Network Group, helps keep the park open. They raise money to pay staff and maintain the mansion. The park now relies a lot on volunteers. They help keep the mansion in good shape and lead educational tours for visitors.
