Flagstaff Tourist Attractions

The Lowell Observatory's claim to fame is that it was the place that discovered Pluto in in 1930. The observatory was founded in 1894 by its namesake, Percival Lowell, on a mesa called Mars Hill just outside of Flagstaff. Today the Lowell Observatory is a thriving enterprise. It is open on a daily basis and visitors can take guided tours of the Alvan Clark refractor and the Pluto Discovery Telescope, along with the Rotunda library. Also on offer are multimedia shows and the opportunity to view the sun through a specially equipped solar telescope. At night, if the weather is clear, the stars, moon, and Jupiter are available for viewing through the telescopes.

The Museum of Northern Arizona was first established in 1928 and is one of the city's most important museums. Today the museum boasts a collection of more than five million Native American artifacts, natural science specimens, and fine art pieces. The museum is located on a 200 acre campus with over 40 buildings, many of which are on the National Register of Historic Places. It concentrates on four main disciplines: anthropology, biology, geology, and fine art. There are also permanent exhibits in five galleries, and in three additional galleries the exhibits change on a regular basis.

The Arizona Historical Society Pioneer Museum, headquarters of the Northern Division of the Arizona Historical Society, is home to a vast collection, in excess of 15,000 items. It is located in the historic Coconino County Hospital for the Indigent, originally constructed in 1908, on N. Fort Valley Road. A barn and root cellar date from the same period as the hospital. The barn was built in 1910 to house county workhorses. The root cellar is where the hospital stored vegetables grown in the garden.The museum is focused primarily on the timber industry and the history of ranching in Flagstaff and Northern Arizona. One of the museum's key exhibits is on the Kolb brothers. This exhibit showcases cameras and other personal items from these famous Grand Canyon explorers. Also on site is a 1929 Baldwin articulated locomotive and a 1940s caboose.

The Coconino Center for the Arts in Flagstaff has musical, theater and dance performances, as well as regular art exhibitions. Housed in a 4000 square foot building, this is Flagstaff's main center for cultural activities. The Center features a constant stream of exhibits and events for the Flagstaff community. The gallery of the Coconino Center for the Arts features diverse temporary exhibitions that showcase local and regional artists. Also on site is a 200 seat auditorium where musical groups perform, films are shown, and other performing artists showcase their work. Be sure to check out their website for the latest listings of events and performers.

The Flagstaff Nordic center is a hotspot for outdoor and ski enthusiasts. The site features over 25 miles of 16 foot wide trails that are groomed for classic and skating style of cross country skiing. The center is located at an elevation of 8,200 feet so snow is plentiful, although the thin air at this altitude adds a special element to your workout. Trails wind their way through the Coconino National Forest, past some of the largest Ponderosa pines in the state. The Flagstaff Nordic center prides itself as being off grid and eco-friendly. All power is generated through solar panels with back-up generators when necessary. The center is about 15 miles from downtown Flagstaff.

The Flagstaff Symphony Orchestra was founded in 1961 after debuting originally as the Northern Arizona Orchestra in 1950. Since that time it has been a local fixture. The orchestra performs at the Ardrey Memorial Auditorium at the Northern Arizona University. A full concert schedule happens each year and covers all aspects of classical music. Special guest conductors and musicians frequently visit, so be sure to check who is in town when you are visiting.The Flagstaff Symphony Orchestra is also active in the community. It hosts "Music on the Move" where orchestra members visit local schools to perform and interact to educate the students.

The Doris-Harper White Community Playhouse was originally the Elks Lodge and then the Flagstaff Library. In 2002, the name was changed from the Flagstaff Playhouse to the current name.The Doris Harper White Playhouse is one of Flagstaff's key cultural performance sites. This venue hosts performances from the Theatrikos Theatre Company. It is unique in the fact that the 99 patrons are never more than 5 rows from the performers on stage. The schedule is always changing with new performances so be sure to check in to see what is playing when you are in town.

The Museum club is a Flagstaff landmark. It was built in 1931 by taxidermist Dean Eldridge to house his extensive collection of stuffed animals. The building is a massive log structure built by lumberjacks and is reputed to be the largest log cabin in Arizona. Over the years the Museum Club became an attraction for those traveling the famed Route 66. Today the building still stands in its full glory and is one of Flagstaff's top roadhouses. The Museum Club is known locally as the "Zoo" and features an ever-changing roster of musical performing acts.

The Arboretum at Flagstaff occupies 200 acres of Ponderosa pine forest at an elevation of 7,150 feet with 15 cultivated gardens. It was originally the year-round home of Frances McAllister and a working ranch which was donated to become the grounds and formal gardens. Regular bird walks have recorded over 100 species of birds, many use the Arboretum grounds for breeding. Wildlife presentations are offered during the summer season. Guided tours through the gardens are offered daily.

The Riordan Mansion is a 13,000 square foot home built in 1904 for Timothy and Michael Riordan, owners of the Arizona Lumber and Timber Company. The two close-knit families built the mansion to have two separate living quarters, totaling 40 rooms, separated by a common area.The Arts and Crafts style architecture features log-slab siding, volcanic stone arches and hand-split wooden shingles.

Northern Arizona University in Flagstaff was founded in 1899, and has a large campus spread out over 680 acres on the south end of town. NAU's historic district has a collection of buildings constructed of locally quarried sandstone between 1894 and 1935.