Lodging in a Nutshell |
Ron Callari, Contributing Writer |
 Situated at the foothills of the San Francisco Peaks at an elevation of 7,000 feet, Flagstaff offers four unique seasonal climates providing for superb hiking, skiing, camping and outdoor recreation opportunities, in addition to its rich and diverse art and cultural attractions and friendly and warm hospitality.
The quality of life in Flagstaff is about as close to Utopia as one can get -- as evidenced by the fact it is voted annually as one of the top cities in which to live.
Rich in history, dating back 900 years, Flagstaff is one of the few places in the country where you can actually walk in the footsteps of the Sinagua Indians and visit the remains of their primitive homes, under limestone overhangs. These single story cliff dwellings were occupied from about 1100 to 1250 AD.
The folklore pertaining to how Flagstaff got its name is pure Americana. Perhaps the most commonly heard tale refers to a lofty pine stripped of its branches and used to hang an American flag with rawhide strings for a Fourth of July celebration. After its inception, the “flagstaff” became a symbol of unity that was displayed throughout the countryside. It became a marker that stood for ‘safe haven,’ and pioneers knew when they spotted one that it was a good place to camp.
In 1876 Thomas F. McMillan, the town’s first settler arrived and set up his home at the base of Mars Hill. Then in 1881, the cross-country railroad made Flagstaff a station stop and allowed the town to grow exponentially. Known for its timber, sheep and cattle, in 1886 Flagstaff became a major hub for commerce on the main line between Albuquerque and the Pacific Coast.
By 1891, Flagstaff had grown to 1,500, establishing Coconino County as the second largest county seat in the United States. Dr. Percival Lowell chose Flagstaff as the home of the famous Lowell Observatory, built in 1894. Known for its clear nocturnal skies, it was here that the planet Pluto was first seen by the naked eye in 1930.
Route 66 was built in the 1920s and passed right through town (and still does) making Flagstaff a popular vacation destination. Flagstaff was incorporated as a city in 1928 with the help of these tourism dollars, and with nearly 50,000 citizens, Flagstaff continues to grow today.
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