National Register of Historic Places

Riordan Estate

Flagstaff, Coconino County, Arizona
Listed
February 28, 1979
Type
Building
Period
Industrial
Ref No.
79000416

About this property

Riordan Mansion State Historic Park is a historic site in Flagstaff, Arizona, bordering Northern Arizona University, that preserves the duplex mansion of lumber barons Timothy and Michael Riordan. This park features the duplex home of Timothy and Michael Riordan, lumber baron brothers who married sisters, Caroline and Elizabeth Metz. The brothers were members of an important Arizona Territorial family who played a role in the development of Flagstaff and northern Arizona and were involved in lumber, railroads, cattle, banking, and politics. Cooperatively the Riordan brothers built their thirteen thousand square foot mansion in 1904 while Arizona was still a territory. The home consisted of two similar six thousand square foot wings for each family, connected by a large common room. Charles Whittlesey was the architect for the Riordan homes. He also was the architect for the El Tovar Hotel at the Grand Canyon. Architectural similarities between the structures can be found in the massive stone arches at porch corners as well as exterior elements that reflect the surrounding landscape like log planks, wood shingles, and native stone. On November 15, 1978, after over a year of planning and negotiations, Arizona State Parks received a warranty deed conveying the Riordan homes, much of their contents and 5 acres (2.0 ha) of land surrounding the structures for state park purposes. The public opening of the Park was held on August 4, 1983, and only included the Timothy A. Riordan (east) side of the house. This was the results of cooperative efforts of the family owner, Robert Chambers, who had died in 1980, and the Arizona State Park board members and personnel. On April 27, 2002, the Michael J. Riordan (west) side was opened for self-guided tours. Riordan Mansion State Historic Park Arizona State Parks & Trails

Location

2 Kinlichi Knoll
Flagstaff, Coconino County, Arizona
35.18745, -111.65976

Categories

INDUSTRYARCHITECTURE
National Register nomination ›
Sources

Property data from the National Register of Historic Places, National Park Service (public domain).

Description adapted from Wikipedia under the Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike 4.0 International License.

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Nearby Historic Sites

Koch, I. B., House
Industrial
0.4 mi
Northern Arizona Normal School Historic District
Listed
0.5 mi
South Beaver School
Industrial
0.5 mi
Arizona Lumber and Timber Company Office
Industrial
0.5 mi
Flagstaff Armory
Industrial
0.6 mi

Questions about this property

When was Riordan Estate listed on the National Register?

Riordan Estate was listed on the National Register of Historic Places on February 28, 1979.

What type of historic resource is Riordan Estate?

Riordan Estate is classified as a building in the National Register of Historic Places.

What is the period of significance for Riordan Estate?

The period of significance for Riordan Estate is recorded as the industrial era.

Can I research the history near Riordan Estate?

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