Flagstaff Heritage Preservation: Architectural Archeology

Most people can imagine an archeologist, carefully excavating a site with hand tools, brushes, and sifting screens. Archeology being: The study of human history and prehistory through the excavation of sites and the analysis of artifacts and other physical remains. But what about simple historic vernacular buildings that deserve an analysis of their physical evidence? Is this Architectural Archeology? Flagstaff’s Heritage Preservation Officer will sift through available maps and physical evidence clues of one historic North End home with very simple beginnings that expanded to a family home with a progression of multiple additions. Decoding such a home cannot only uncover the history of the home but also the history of the city in how it developed from its earliest land divisions providing housing for worker to its current configuration and ongoing changes. 

One of the best tools in historic preservation are the Sanborn Fire Insurance Maps. These maps were produced to determine what the insurance rate would be for each home, business, or industry. Using color coding the type of construction was noted from wood, brick, stone, or metal along with the type of heating and other aspects including distance form hydrants, and fire stations. The dimensions and configurations shown in the maps is highly accurate and where physically observed and measure at the site and are more accurate than current computer mapping based on arial observations. Though each structures map representation is relatively small, much can be derived from these Sanborn maps. 

A living town is always a subject of change that can be seen in these maps. Our city is a book with many chapters with additional chapters to be written. The North End Historic Residential District, listed in the National Register of Historic Places, is undergoing active change with new development as well as historic preservation projects. To what level historic aspects remain is a challenge in Heritage Preservation efforts that accommodate change while preserving important aspects of our history. Flagstaff’s Heritage Preservation Officer is a member of a Comprehensive Planning Team, where the team is looking for our community and region citizen’s active participation in a regional planning vision for 2045. This Regional Plan is the basis for our areas long range planning decisions that includes heritage preservation.

Other Flagstaff Districts such as Townsite have recognizable residential styles while the Southside District reflects more vernacular forms based with its ethnic residents. The Railroad Addition District includes the core commercial buildings north of the tracks as well as the original segment of Route 66 south of the tracks on Phoenix Ave that includes historic rooming houses and Green Book Motels. NAU’s core is a District and Lowell Observatory is a National Historic Landmark District acknowledging a significant impact to national history.  

Attend this event to hear more from Mark Reavis and uncover the progression of one historic Flagstaff home by sifting through maps and physical evidence with Flagstaff’s Heritage Preservation Officer. The event takes place on September 24 at 3 p.m. at Riordan Mansion.