Built in 1904 for two Riordan families, Riordan Mansion is an impressive reminder of gracious living in a small, territorial logging town. The historic building is an Arizona treasure — a remarkable example of Arts and Crafts style architecture featuring a rustic exterior of log-slab siding, volcanic stone arches, and hand-split wooden shingles. The expansive home has forty rooms, over 13,000 square-feet of living area, and servants' quarters. The Riordan residence was designed by the creator of Grand Canyon's El Tovar Hotel, Charles Whittlesey.
Brochure and Map of Arizona State Parks and Trails. Published by Arizona State Parks & Trails.
Riordan Mansion SHP
https://azstateparks.com/riordan-mansion
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Riordan_Mansion_State_Historic_Park
Built in 1904 for two Riordan families, Riordan Mansion is an impressive reminder of gracious living in a small, territorial logging town. The historic building is an Arizona treasure — a remarkable example of Arts and Crafts style architecture featuring a rustic exterior of log-slab siding, volcanic stone arches, and hand-split wooden shingles. The expansive home has forty rooms, over 13,000 square-feet of living area, and servants' quarters. The Riordan residence was designed by the creator of Grand Canyon's El Tovar Hotel, Charles Whittlesey.
Nearby Parks
Guided Tours
American Arts & Crafts
If you’re having a great time here, don’t forget
to visit one of the four nearby state parks!
Slide Rock State Park (22 miles) As one of
the few homesteads left intact in the canyon
today, Slide Rock State Park is a fine example
of early agricultural development in central
Arizona. The site was also instrumental to the
development of the tourism industry in Oak
Creek Canyon. The creek offers the park’s
namesake slide for adventure-seekers and
those looking for a place to cool off. (928) 2823034
Red Rock State Park (38 miles) is a 286acre nature preserve and environmental
education center with stunning scenery. Trails
throughout the park reach the rich banks of Oak
Creek. Green meadows are framed by native
vegetation and hills of red rock. The creek
meanders through the park, creating a habitat
abundant with plants and wildlife. (928) 2826907.
Fort Verde State Historic Park (55 miles)
Experience living history and life through the
eyes of a frontier soldier. The fort was a base
for General Crook’s U.S. Army scouts and
soldiers in the 1870s and 1880s. From 1865
– 1891 Camp Lincoln, Camp Verde and Fort
Verde were home to officers, doctors, families,
enlisted men, and scouts. (928) 567-3275.
The interior of the Mansion is seen by guided
tour only. Tours begin on the hour and last
approximately one hour. A tour guide will
lead you through the East House; a pristine
historical home filled with original artifacts,
hand-crafted
furniture,
and
personal
mementos of the Riordan families. The tour
concludes in the West House where visitors
have the opportunity to wander the first floor
exhibit area. Reservations for the tour are
highly recommended and required for buses
and large groups. Visit azstateparks.com/
riordan-mansion for current info.
In the early 1900s, a new style of architecture,
influenced by the Arts & Crafts Movement in
England, became popular in the United States.
A reaction against the excesses of the Victorian
era and the giant factories of the Industrial era,
this new philosophy emphasized simplicity,
craftsmanship, and the beauty found in nature.
The new architectural designs included open
floor plans, exposed structural elements,
walk-in closets, and built-in storage features.
Buildings were supposed to blend into the
natural landscape, using locally available
materials, and celebrate local cultures and
traditions. A uniquely American blending of
the natural environment with the melting pot
of cultures resulted.
Established 1957
Riordan State Historic Park
409 W. Riordan Rd, Flagstaff, AZ 86001
RIORDAN MANSION
STATE HISTORIC PARK
Park Rules
01/22
Built in 1904 for two Riordan families, Riordan
Mansion State Historic Park is an impressive
reminder of gracious living in a small, territorial
logging town. The historic building is an
Arizona treasure — a remarkable example of
Arts and Crafts style architecture featuring a
rustic exterior of log-slab siding, volcanic stone
arches, and hand-split wooden shingles. The
expansive home has forty rooms, over 13,000
square-feet of living area, and servants quarters.
The Riordan residence was designed by Charles
Whittlesey, architect of the Grand Canyon’s El
Tovar Hotel.
Thank you for visiting!
(928) 779-4395 | 1-877-MYPARKS
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Please protect this special park by observing
the following rules:
General Rules
• Do not litter! “Leave no trace” and pack
out what you bring in, or use the trash
receptacles provided in the park.
• Leave all food and open drink containers
outside of the park buildings.
• Drive your vehicle only on designated paved
surfaces. Park only in designated parking
areas. Do not park on the side of the road.
• Do not use glass containers in the park.
Mansion Rules
• Use the red carpet as your stepping guide.
• Silence all electronic devices.
• Only closed water bottles are permitted in
the house.
• Leave strollers, large bags, and backpacks
out of the house.
• Only service animals are permitted inside
the house.
• Do not use tripods, monopods, selfie sticks,
or any equipment in addition to your camera.
Personal photos are allowed. Commercial
photos require a permit.
• Be aware of your surroundings. Damaging
artifacts is a crime.
The rules of this park are not limited to the rules
listed above. Additional park rules may be
found at www.azstateparks.com.
Riordan Mansion exhibits these ideas with log
slab siding covering the frame-built structure,
lending a rustic appearance to the home. Log
ends protrude at eaves and corners to further
the illusion of log construction, and local
volcanic rock forms the base, chimneys, and
arches. The common room between the two
homes is intended to be a large, welcoming
social area and continues the rustic look with
exposed, log-supported ceiling beams. The
inside of the homes have elegant interior
formal spaces which feature plaster walls,
wainscotin
Self-Guided Walk
Timothy and Michael Riordan were prominent
pioneer
Flagstaff
businessmen
who
developed a successful logging operation
as well as many other business ventures and
community improvements. After marrying
sisters, Caroline and Elizabeth Metz, and living
side by side for years, the families upgraded
by building this 13,000 square foot duplex
home in 1904.
The home had all the technology we have in
our homes today: electric lights, central heat,
hot and cold running water, and telephones.
The architect, Charles Whittlesey, also
designed the El Tovar Hotel at the Grand
Canyon. The home’s original reddish color
inspired the name Kinlichi Knoll from the
Navajo term meaning “red house.”
Visitor
Center
1. You are looking at the back of Timothy and
Caroline Riordan’s home. To your far left is the
home of Michael and Elizabeth Riordan. In the
middle is a large, single story room shared
by both families. The Riordan homes are fine
examples of the American Arts & Crafts style of
architecture popular from the early 1900s into
the early 1920s. This architecture strives for
simplicity, craftsmanship, and the celebration
of nature.
The primary building material for the house
is Ponderosa pine. There is an “old growth”
(two hundred year old plus) Ponderosa pine to
your right. This type of mature tree formed the
backbone of the Riordans’ lumber business.
2. Behind you
is
the
front
entrance to Tim
and
Caroline
Riordan’s home.
Note the use
of local, lichen
covered, volcanic rock to create the beautiful
rustic entrance and covered porch. Arts &
Crafts style architects celebrated nature in their
designs through the use of native building
materials. Covered porches, such as this one,
were essential because they blur the line
between the inside and outside environments.
Stroll down the cinder pathway through the
trees to see what remains of the family tennis
court. The net posts are still visible but several
trees have encroached onto the playing court.
Beyond the tennis court are large, horse drawn
skid wheels that were used for hauling logs.
The tongue was tipped skyward in order to
lower the rear of the axle down to the logs for a
chain attachment. When the horses pulled the
tongue down, the logs were hoisted upwards
to the undercarriage of the wheels.
3. The stone circle before you was designed and
used by the family for evening gatherings and
fireside talks. It also recalls an Irish tradition that
fairies could be deterred from creating mischief
inside the house by providing them a place to
dance through the night.
Gardens and landscaping were
an important part of the Arts and
Crafts style home. However, in
Flagstaff’s dry climate, it made
more sense for the family to allow
their estate to remain largely in its natural state.
Historic photos in the visitor center show that
this little knoll was mostly bare of trees when
the home was built. The Riordans allowed
Ponderosa pine seedlings to grow and planted
various trees to see what would grow at this
elevation, including spruce, juniper, and elm.
4. As you look at the single story roof of the room
connecting the two homes, you will see the
remnants of balcony railings. When the homes
were first built the families had a balcony on each
side accessible from the inside stairway landing.
Unfortunately, these north facing balconies had
issues with ice dams and leaking. To solve the
problem, the families decided to eliminate the
balconies and extended the roof.
5. This stone path is a historic sidewalk
and parallels the original driveway leading
to the house. Follow it to get a closer look
at the gatekeeper’s cottage. As you walk
to the next stop notice the view of the San
Francisco Peaks through the trees. When
the home was first built it had wonderful
sweeping views of the mountain. Today
the Ponderosa pine have grown so tall
they obscure the view.
6. The two evergreen plants
are the narrow-leaf yucca
and banana yucca. These
plants are usually found in
open sunny areas, and serve as reminders
of the estate’s original, less vegetated
condition. Hidden under the inside right
wall of the stone arch is a ceramic
katchina tile. According to local
Hopi people, this katchina or spirit
will help protect the house. The
Riordans had their only water
hungry indulgence here in
the courtyard; flowers and a
Kentucky blue grass lawn.
7. These hitching posts and mounting
stones were used for tethering and
mounting horses — the most common
mode of transportation when the house
was built.
8. If you look carefully at the protruding
log ends on the second floor of the house
you will see two carved totem faces.
Michael Riordan was inspired by Native
American cultural traditions of the U.S.
Northwest coast.
This home is intended to blend into the
forest environment, so the architect
used rounded log slab siding nailed to
the exterior of the frame structure to
create the effect of a log cabin. Instead
of the strictly decorative ornamentation
of the Victorian era, which created
fancy
