Flagstaff, AZ (Sedona.biz) - Flagstaff sits at the base of the San Francisco Peaks, a 12,633 foot dormant volcano.  The town is located 30 miles northeast of Sedona at the intersection of US Interstate 40 and US Interstate 17, making it the centerpiece for commerce in Northern Arizona.  It is called the "City of Seven Wonders" because it is surrounded by the Grand Canyon, Oak Creek Canyon, Walnut Canyon, Wupatki National Monument, Sunset Crater National Monument, and the San Francisco Peaks.

Brief History

Flagstaff's 7,000 foot elevation is surrounded by the dense Ponderosa Pines of the Coconino National Forest, making logging one of its primary industries.  Its name was coined on July 4, 1876 (United States Centennial) when lumberjacks nailed an American flag to the top of a Ponderosa Pine.

Present

Flagstaff has about 50,000 residents.  The town's major attractions are the Lowell Observatory (lower right) and two different craters.  Visitors can also tour the Riordan Mansion, the Arboretum at Flagstaff, hike at the Walnut Canyon National Monument or explore ancient Indian pueblos at the Wupatki National Monument.

Astronomical Observatory
The Lowell Observatory is a privately owned astronomical research institution that operates nine telescopes at two locations in Flagstaff.  The planet Pluto was discovered here in 1930.  The main facility is located on Mars Hill just west of downtown Flagstaff that houses the original Clark Refracting Telescope built in 1896 and used today for public education.  The second facility is located 12 miles south of downtown Flagstaff on Anderson Mesa.

Two Different Craters
The Sunset Crater Volcano was formed in 1064 A.D. from a volcanic eruption in the

The Meteor Crater (right) was formed between 20,000 and 50,000 years ago when an asteroid  weighing hundreds of thousands of tons crashed into the earth about 40 miles east of Flagstaff.

Location

Flagstaff is located in Coconino County in North Central Arizona.  The Grand Canyon is 78 miles northwest; about a two hour drive.

Related article:  Fun in Flagstaff

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