Reminder of November events!

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November 2017 at Riordan Mansion

Riordan Mansion State Historic Park

Winter Hours (Nov 1 - Apr 30)
Hours: 10:30 AM - 5:00 PM • Thu - Mon (Closed Tue and Wed)
Tours begin on the hour. First tour at 11:00 AM and the last tour at 4:00 PM

Reservations for tours are recommended: 928.779.4395

Just a little reminder that our special tours and events fill up quickly (see picture above). Scroll down to see what's coming up this month - beginning today with the Second Sunday Tour!

Nov 12
Second Sunday Special Tour: Beyond the Split Rail
2:00 pm – 3:30 pm
A 90-minute guided tour focused on life outside the mansion, join us to learn about early twentieth century Flagstaff. Taking inspiration from the great guides at Museum Hack, we've developed this special tour to "hack the house." Come hear the stories we don't usually tell.

Cost is $12; only $10 for AHS members. Space is limited, so reservations are required. Reservations and information can be obtained by calling the Park.

Nov 13
Brown Bag Lecture:
The Death of Little Johnny Elden Murder & Mystery – Myth & History
12:15 pm
Presented by John Westerlund

The best-known and perhaps most-visited gravesite in northern Arizona belongs to little Johnny Elden, Jr. His murder in 1887 remains one of the most infamous in Arizona Territorial history. Today, Johnny rests alone in a rock-covered forest grave at the base of the Flagstaff mountain named for his father and family. Johnny was just six years old when he was shot and killed by an itinerant mule skinner in a dispute over water. This murder has haunted Flagstaff for well over a century. The ghastly crime weighs heavily on gravesite visitors at the base of Elden Mountain where they often leave small toys and plastic flowers next to the gas-pipe cross that rests in cement on top of the grave of stones. This presentation will look at the story of Flagstaff pioneer John Elden and the horrible loss of his young son.

FREE! Does not include tour admission to Riordan Mansion.

Catherine Sickafoose contributed the image below. It is a copy of her painting, "The Mystery of Johnny Elden."

Nov 18
Evening Lecture:
Retracing the Footsteps of Martha Summerhayes
7:00 pm
Retracing the Footsteps of Martha Summerhayes in the Arizona Territory – 1874—1878 or How I Touched a Piece of Real Arizona History While Sailing Around an Iceberg in Greenland. Presented by Wayne Ranney.

In the 1870s a refined New England woman traveled with her lieutenant husband to the untamed Arizona Territory. Traveling in terrible conditions and initially horrified by the desert landscape, she came to love the starry nights, the clear air and the relative simplicity of life in Arizona. In fact, she wrote what is now a classic in Southwest literature, Vanished Arizona. Join Ranney as he recounts this tale of hard-won love and reveals his personal connection to Martha Summerhayes!

FREE!

In Cooperation with the Grand Canyon Historical Society.

Save these dates for December's Special Tour and Brown Bag Lecture!

Dec 10
Second Sunday Special Tour: Holiday Photographers Tour
2:00 pm – 3:30 pm
A 90 minute guided tour of Riordan Mansion with a focus on Holiday Traditions and the opportunity to take photographs.

Dec 11
Brown Bag Lecture: Mark Twain in the American West
12:15 pm

In Celebration of Samuel Clemens' Birthday, we will explore the forces which caused him to make the trip to the newly established Territory of Nevada with his brother Orion, in 1861. Twain began advocating for social justice while confronted with cruelty to the Chinese in San Francisco. This will become an underlying theme to much of his work, culminating in his high profile as the most famous member of the American Anti-Imperialist League in the 1890's and early 1900's. Presented by Kathy Farretta, Volunteer, Riordan Mansion State Historic Park. FREE!

The Arizona Historical Society manages Riordan Mansion and the Pioneer Museum. Between the two historic sites, there are plenty of educational and fun history-related events to attend each month.

Current Exhibit
Todos Unidos: The Hispanic Experience in Flagstaff

Todos Unidos (all united), chronicles the Mexican-American and Spanish-American experience in Flagstaff from early immigration at the turn of the 20th century to the establishment of prominent businesses and a vibrant social and religious culture.

AHS Pioneer Museum, 2340 N. Fort Valley Rd., Flagstaff, AZ 86001.
Phone: 928-774-6272 Email: jhough@azhs.gov

Do you have a special occasion to celebrate? Whether it's the beautiful courtyard at Riordan Mansion or the rustic western feel of the barn at the Pioneer Museum, the Arizona Historical Society has the venue for you!

For more information about events or tours call Pioneer at 928.774.6272 or Riordan at 928.779.4395

Keep up to date with us on Facebook:
Northern Arizona Pioneers' Historical Society
Riordan Action Network

Volunteers are crucial to keeping Riordan Mansion and Pioneer Museum open and maintained. You can volunteer at one or both sites! The possibilities are endless and include: front desk, tour guide, maintenance, dusting/cleaning, research, special events, educational outreach, living history demonstrator, and more! Please contact Sacha Siskonen at 928-774-6272 or SSiskonen@azhs.gov to learn how YOU can help! The winter season is an ideal time to get involved!

Membership in the Arizona Historical Society

Arizona history begins with YOU! Join the Arizona Historical Society today!

Your Arizona Historical Society membership support allows us to:
— Collect and preserve the precious artifacts of Arizona’s colorful past
— Create imaginative exhibits
— Provide entertaining public programs

Your Arizona Historical Society membership provides YOU:
— Unlimited individual admission for one year to all Arizona Historical Society museums in Tempe, Tucson, Yuma, and Flagstaff (including Riordan Mansion State Historic Park)
— Subscription to The Journal of Arizona History, our award-winning quarterly publication
— And so much more!

Click here to learn more and sign up:
http://www.arizonahistoricalsociety.org/membership/

The Arizona Historical Society now offers $500.00 and $1,000.00 Business Memberships. For details, contact Membership Services Coordinator Roy Goodman at 520-617-1165 or membership@azhs.gov.

Thank you for reading and for being a friend to our local historic sites.

Donate Now! Click here!

We depend on donations for preservation and to enhance our programming.

The Pioneer Museum is owned and operated by the Arizona Historical Society.
Riordan Mansion is an Arizona Sate Park, operated by the Arizona Historical Society.