Railroad Addition Historic District (Flagstaff, Arizona)


The Flagstaff Railroad Addition Historic District is significant because of its association with the Atchison, Topeka and Santa Fe Railway as well as U.S. Route 66. The original boundary was roughly bounded by Santa Fe RR tracks, Agassiz and Beaver Sts., Birch and Aspen Avenues. The district was expanded twice to add nine buildings along Phoenix Avenue from Beaver Street to San Francisco Avenue, and a building at 122 East Route 66.
Disastrous fires swept through early Flagstaff; in 1897 the city passed an ordinance requiring all buildings in the business area to be built of brick, stone or iron.
Several of the buildings in the District are associated with well known businessmen of the late 1800s and early 1900s. These include John W. Weatherford, who constructed the Weatherford Hotel, The Babbitt brothers David, George, William and Charles whose names are associated with several buildings in the District, and Thomas E. Pollock, Sr.
NameYear BuiltArchitectural StyleComments
Flagstaff 1926 Depot
1926Revival TudorBuilt during the boom years of the 1920s, and is now considered a symbol of Flagstaff. Today it is known as the Amtrak station and Visitor Center.
McMillan Building
1886Hotel built out of native stone and locally made brick; bank located at corner
Raymond Building
1911Dr. Raymond was one of Flagstaff's earliest physicians; Moencopi sandstone around door
Loy Building
1897Loy was an attorney
Citizen's Bank Building
1903Constructed of Moencopi sandstone
Flagstaff Telephone Exchange
1909Was the first major telephone office; built by John Weatherford; reverted to restaurant in 1930; constructed of Moencopi sandstone
Weatherford Hotel
First section made 1898 and second section made in 1899Considered to be a downtown anchor since 1900; constructed of Moencopi sandstone
Coalter Building
1898Flagstaff's first Post Office
Pollock Building
1900-1903Flagstaff's first library on the second floor
Babbitt Building #1
1907Flagstaff's second Post Office located here; constructed of tufa
Babbitt Building #2
1911
Elks Hall
1899The Elks occupied the top floor; the first bowling alley in Flagstaff was in the basement; ground floor was a drug store
Coconino Sun Building
1926The Sun Newspaper has been Flagstaff's newspaper since 1891; it was moved to this location to make room for the Monte Vista Hotel
Bikker Building #1
1917Originally a harness shop; unusual shell of pebble siding added later
Bikker Building #2
1917First floor to house J.C. Penny, the first chain to come to Flagstaff; second floor Odd Fellows hall
Monte Vista Hotel
1926The construction on this hotel was a community effort, in 1926 raising $200,000 within 60 days
Riordan Building
1917NeoclassicalFlagstaff's 3rd Post Office
Babbitt Brothers Building
1888Was originally a department store; it has been expanded many times, and restored to original appearance in 1990
Babbitt's Garage
1915The Babbitt brothers constructed this for automobiles, using reinforced concrete, a first for the area
Masonic Temple
1917Upper story housed the temple; ground floors and basement were rentals
Federal Building
1936Federal Modern styleFlagstaff's fifth Post Office
Hawks Building
1897
Nackard Building
1922Location of fourth Post office
Brannen Building #3
1887Housed town's first physician, D. J. Brannen, who had office and drug store here
Brannen Building #5
1883P.J. Brannen was first store owner to set up business in Flagstaff; building burned once but was rebuilt using original stones
Vail Building
1888Art DecoMost of Flagstaff's first businesses were saloons, catering to railroad workers; brawls and shootings were common; building made of brick, but stuccoed in 1939
Donahue Building
1888Originally a saloon, and was owned by one of Flagstaff's most colorful characters, Sandy Donahue; built of brick and stuccoed in the 1930s
Santa Fe Depot 1889
1889Flagstaff's first train depot; in 1886 wooden depot destroyed by fire; present building made of Moencopi sandstone