About Flagstaff, Arizona   
Flagstaff’s first permanent settler, Thomas F. McMillian, built his cabin in 1876. During the 1880’s the town began its growth mainly due to the availability of timber, its location in regards to major highways, and the coming of the railroad. By 1886, Flagstaff had become the biggest city on the Albuquerque to the West Coast main line. In 1894, Dr. Percival Lowell chose Flagstaff as the site of the now famous Lowell Observatory because of Flagstaff’s great visibility. During the 1920’s, Route 66 was built passing directly through the town, making Flagstaff a popular tourist spot and bringing it national notoriety. In 1928, Flagstaff was incorporated as a city and the population increased significantly.
  Being situated at 7,000 feet above sea level, and located at the intersection of major US Highways including I-17 and I-40, the now largest city in northern Arizona was designated as the county seat. Its relationship to these highways along with the bustling railroad made it a major trucking and shipping mecca for the west.
  Surrounded by one of the largest pine forests in the world, and offering a moderate four season climate, the outdoor recreational opportunities in the Flagstaff region are endless. Its Aspen leaves give the area wonderful color during the autumn, and making the miles of hiking trails very attractive; and the 90 plus inches of snow in the winter months provide excellent skiing and snowboarding fun.
  Only 80 miles from the Grand Canyon, the Flagstaff region also features the  Meteor Crater, the San Francisco Peaks, Wupatki National Monument, Sunset Crater, and many Native American communities including the Hopi Tribe and Navajo Nation.

Weather

Directions & Distances
Flagstaff is located between Williams and Winslow, at the intersection of I-40 and I-17, and is north of Sedona, and south of the Grand Canyon.
From Williams, AZ: Head east on I-40 for 28 miles.
From Winslow, AZ: Head west on I-40 for about an hour.
From Sedona, AZ: Head north on Hwy. 89A
From Grand Canyon, AZ: Head south on Hwy. 64. Go east on Rte. 180, then west to I-40 and Flagstaff.

Flagstaff Articles & Interviews
The Arboretum at Flagstaff - America’s Mountain Garden, The Arboretum at Flagstaff features one of the nature largest collections of high-country wildflowers. Learn about the plants and animals native to the world’s largest Ponderosa Pine Forest, explore several miles of trails, cultivated gardens, and experimental greenhouses. Read about The Arboretum at Flagstaff.

Meteor Crater - The Best Preserved and First Proven Meteorite Impact Site on Planet Earth!
By Lisa D. Smith

Nearby Towns & Cities
Grand Canyon, AZ;    Sedona, AZ;   Williams, AZ;    Winslow, AZ