Train Depot and The Riordans
Turning 100 the same year as the road. The building that made Flagstaff a crossroads.
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The History
The first train arrived in Flagstaff on August 1, 1882, and stopped at a converted boxcar that served as the town's first depot. There was no station. There was barely a town. But the railroad changed everything.
The current Train Depot was built in 1926, the same year Route 66 was commissioned. It turns 100 in 2026, alongside the road.
Historical Figures at This Stop
The Route 66 Story
The Train Depot is where Flagstaff's two great transportation stories intersect. The railroad made the town possible. Route 66 made it famous. What the Riordans did in between is one of the most remarkable chapters of Arizona history.
The rest of this story? You will hear it on the tour.
This Is Stop 05 of 16
on the Route 66 Walking Tour of Flagstaff.