Riordan Mansion, a Flagstaff, Arizona Must-See

Two Brothers Marry Two Sisters and Civilize the Wild West

In order to get a sense of Flagstaff’s history and gain a respect for the men and women who braved the untamed West to seek their fortunes, a visit to Riordan Mansion is a great place to start. The mansion is one of the finest examples of Arts and Crafts architecture in the West and holds many surprises for the visitor.

Visitors’ Center

To find Riordan Mansion State Historic Park, just follow the brown signs on Riordan Road to the campus of Northern Arizona University. The mansion is adjacent to the college. Park in the wooded lot and head for the Visitors’ Center. There are historical displays and a book store. The docent-led tours of the Riordan Mansion start here. It is wise to make a tour reservation. Map

History

In the visitors’ center you will be able to picture northern Arizona in the late 1800’s. Sheep ranching got started in the mid-1880s. People were drawn to northern Arizona because of the natural springs and the largest stand of Ponderosa Pine in the world.

On the 4th of July, 1876, as the United States turned 100, a flagpole was built out of a pine tree and the American flag was raised. Seven years later, a railroad, the Atlantic and Pacific, was constructed through Flagstaff, the town that was named for the large flagpole. The railroad opened up the opportunity for shipping lumber. The Arizona Lumber and Timber Company quickly became a big business. People, mostly men, came out to the wild West to work in the timber business. A few homes were built in Flagstaff, mostly for mill management.

The Riordans

In 1884, Dennis Matthew Riordan, the eldest of three brothers, arrived in Flagstaff and was hired to manage the Ayer Lumber Company. In turn he brought his younger half-brothers into the business. Dennis brought his wife to Flagstaff and, as the docents will tell you, she was not happy with the rural lifestyle and wanted to return to the East where she could enjoy cultural pursuits and a more gentile lifestyle. The younger Riordon brothers, however, married more adventuresome women, the Metz sisters, and together they developed a most unusual and beautiful homestead and brought culture to the wild West.

Riordon Mansion – What You Will See

The first thing you will notice about the Riordan Mansion is that there is no other place like it! The brothers commissioned their homes to be built, almost identical, and joined by a 1000 square foot common room known as “the cabin.” The 13,000 square foot Riordan Mansion, has 40 rooms. It is a beautiful example of Arts and Crafts architecture and houses surprising innovation. The tour will take you through one of the homes which is completely furnished, through the great room, the cabin, and into the second home which houses displays.

Photo Gallery

Innovations in the West

The Riordons spared no expense in having their home built. The mansion was constructed in just nine months. It was designed in the Arts and Crafts style by Charles Whittlesey who also designed the Grand Canyon’s El Tovar Hotel. From the outside of the home it appears that it is a log home. In reality the home is a frame structure with ponderosa pine rounded slab planks, left over from the mill.

Keep in mind, this home was built in a frontier area, where comforts were unheard of. As you tour, you will enjoy seeing such innovations as large ice boxes in the kitchen, call systems for the owners to summon staff, central heating and ventilation systems carrying air through open areas from the first floor to the second. The homes have open, flowing floor plans, plenty of fireplaces (even in staff quarters) and the latest, for the era, indoor plumbing.

A Treasure Trove of Arts and Crafts Furniture

The furniture is made for the home. This is a great place to see Arts and Crafts furniture, Gustav Stickley pieces, in particular. The Stickley pieces were all purchased for the home when it was built in 1904. The Riordan Mansion is one of the rare places where you can see examples of Harvey Ellis designed inlay furniture.

Other pieces will surprise you. In the dining room of one of the homes everything is in an oval, or boat shape. An unusual canoe-shaped dining room table was commissioned by the owner because he wanted to have a table where everyone could see each other and to facilitate conversation. It remains today and looks like a great idea! What I enjoyed most about seeing the furniture was the opportunity to see it in a home-like setting, placed exactly as it was used and with dishes and decorative accessories.