riordan mansion state historic park

great historic home and the tour very informative of the beginnings of flagstaff....easy to find....docents very well informed, friendly....

Two brothers marry two sisters and construct a two-sided mansion with the same 6000 square feet limitation on living quarters, but with very significant differences in architectural tastes within the oeuvre of western rustic. All at the turn of the 19th into the 20th century and beyond. What could possibly beat that? Terrific enthusiasts serve as guides, and the tour is well worth the time.

This was a great tour. The tour guide, Lou, is very knowledgeable and passionate about the Riordan family and their home and still researches and interviews the grandchildren and great grandchildren. The furnishings in the home are original to the family, so you really get a glimpse of how they lived.

my kids and I enjoyed the tour a lot. Not too long, and full of great stuff to see. Agree that it would probably bore younger kids.

I am a member of one of one of the families that also help put Flagstaff on the map. My Grandmother, Grandfather, mother, aunt and uncle all spent time in this house when it was still owned by the family. I've heard a few stories of the fond memories of their time there and I love visiting knowing that this house is a part of my history too! I visit every few years.It is a great piece of Flagstaff history with lots of original furnishings and knowledgeable staff who love their jobs and are enthusiastic historians themselves. There is a nice little gift shop in the "lobby" with crafts and goods from local artisans.If you are interested in the "history of place", this tour is meant for you. It's not long, about 45 minutes, so it isn't overwhelming. Our docent was enthusiastic and humorous.I wouldn't necessarily recommend it for small children (unless they are babes in arms), they will be bored and are asked multiple times to keep their hands off of things. It's not impossible, as I was with two families with small children and they survived. I have two kids, 4 and 7. My 7 year old would be able to handle it, but I don't think I would take my 4 year old.I think it's a unique historical tour and the family who lived there are interesting people. Although, I could be a little bit biased! Especially since it is inexpensive and not long I think it's a great way to spend an afternoon if you are interested in the local history.

The docent was very knowledgeable and descriptive. I loved The Riordan mansion the furnishings were just exquisite . The Flagstaff founders you need to see this awesome home.

Looking for something to do on a rainy day we came upon the Riordan Mansion tour. Very interesting, innovative and influential to Flagstaff.

A 6000 sq ft duplex of the local lumber baron. Designed by the same people that designed the ElTovar at the Grand Canyon

This was ok, but only mildly more interesting than my own grandparents homestead home. The friend I was with LOVED it, as it is unique.

Being long-time residents of Flagstaff, we treated ourselves to a Christmas tour of the Riordan Mansion. We learned even more about the Riordan family and their contributions to the town of Flagstaff and the community. This is truly a living history museum as members of the family still contribute stories and furnishing. If you want to see true Craftsman architecture and furnishings, this is the place to go!

Great historical place to visit and learn about the history of Flagstaff and the family that basically founded the town. The staff is extremely friendly and you can tell they take pride in the mansion and what they do. Our tour guide was excellent and was extremely knowledgable. The mansion itself was filled with artifacts and period pieces. It really brought you back in time. I highly recommend this tour.

We were in Flagstaff for Thanksgiving week and took the tour of the Riordan Mansion based on other reviews. So glad we did! We like to visit historic locations that give us a glimpse into what it was like to be there in earlier times and Lou, our tour guide, did a fantastic job at that! He made the early days of Flagstaff come alive for us in a way that a walk through an old house or museum could never have done. We've had lots of docent lead tours before but his knowledge and ability to keep his guests engaged far surpassed what we expected. Definitely take the hour or two to tour this place and learn about a family that helped shape early Flagstaff!

The tour of this mansion was comprehensive and well done. The building is interesting and its history unique. Our tour guide, Louis, knew the property and history well. He was friendly and welcomed questions.

Very, very interesting to see what the folks were doing at the turn of the century along with living conditions. It was impressive what money can do and how the Flagstaff City had begun.

There are regularly scheduled tours of the house itself ( you can walk the grounds on your own) and reservations are recommended. It was interesting and a nice break from regular museums and hiking and gave a clearer view of what life was like, at least for the well to do, in Flagstaff years ago. Our guide was good but seemed to be in a bit of a hurry. She asked in each room if there were questions and when people had them it was clear that she was very knowledgable.