Flagstaff: (Images of America)

On July 4, 1876, immigrants from Boston traveling to California were camped at Antelope Spring in a valley just south of the San Francisco Peaks. To celebrate the nation's centennial, the pioneers stripped the branches off a tall pine tree and ran up Old Glory. This event gave Flagstaff its name. Six years later, in 1882, the Atlantic and Pacific Railway reached Flagstaff, and a small settlement was born. Railroad construction crews used local ponderosa pine trees for rail ties, beginning a timber industry that thrived in the region for the next century. Flagstaff also became a center of tourism as visitors came to see spectacular natural sights in the surrounding territory, including the Grand Canyon, Oak Creek Canyon, and Sunset Crater, and to experience the Native American cultures of the American Southwest. This volume traces the establishment and early development of Flagstaff and depicts many facets of life in Arizona's "Mountain Town."

About the Author :
Authors James E. Babbitt, a descendant of a pioneer Flagstaff family, and John G. DeGraff III, an avid collector of historical photographs of Flagstaff, have showcased over 180 vintage images from their own collections, as well as from the Arizona Historical Society, Babbitt Brothers Trading Company, the Northern Arizona Pioneers Historical Society, and Northern Arizona University, to tell the story of early Flagstaff.

Review :
Title: New Flagstaff book celebrates town's hard-working history
Author: Patrick Whitehurst
Publisher: Williams News
Date: 12/30/09

Williams has always had a sort of rivalry with Flagstaff. Whether it has to do with tourism, holiday celebrations or attractions, that rivalry dates back well over 100 years. At the same time, however, Flagstaff also serves as the unofficial backbone for Williams. Locals shop in Flagstaff, see movies there and attend events not offered in Williams, making the rivalry a lopsided one. Flagstaff is a larger community after all, as is evident in Arcadia Publishing's new Images of America book, Flagstaff, by James E. Babbitt and John G. DeGraff III.

Reading a book on the history of Flagstaff, one written by a Babbitt no less, is a perfect way to understand the city's significant role in northern Arizona. The Babbitt family has lived in the area for generations and their role in the area has been quite prominent as they operated their successful business endeavors. Author James Babbitt reached into his own family archives to produce the book, which is filled with over 180 historic photographs designed to illuminate the city's long history of lumber, tourism and railroading.

Photos in the collection cover a wide range of attributes that helped define Flagstaff, including its connections to the Oak Creek/Sedona area and the Grand Canyon National Park. Railroads, merchants and roadways are also given due coverage in the book. Intriguing photos appear on nearly every page and are particularly exciting for those who frequent the city, as many of the buildings are still standing. Babbitt and DeGraff make a point to point out those buildings that are still standing, as well as their current names and locations.

As the name suggests, Arcadia Publishing's Images of America Series is more about detailing the history of America through historic photographs than it is about telling an area's history in words. As is clear in Flagstaff, that formula works well, as budding historians and fans of the southwest will come away with a much clearer picture of the city's esteemed place in the world. Flagstaff is sure to find appeal with a wide audience throughout the state and across the country. The book can be found on a number of online retailers, including bn.com and amazon.com, as well as on the Arcadia Publishing Web site at www.arcadiapublishing.com.