CHAPTER 5: DOWNTOWN

Depot: Flagstaff Visitors Center 

1) From the Field: Look at the orientation of the commercial buildings behind (north of) the train station. First, describe their orientation with respect to the railroad. Secondly, what does this orientation tell you about how and why Flagstaff's downtown was originally settled? (see Chapter 3 for clues.) 

2) From the Field: Wander around inside the Visitors Center and take notice of how the space is used on the inside. What are the primary functions taking place inside? What features of its interior design still suggest its former use as a Santa Fe Railway depot? 

Public Art: Santa Fe Plaza

1) From the Field: What does "Gandy Dancer" mean, and why is the term historically significant? Look for obvious clues around the sculpture. 

2) From the Field: Judging from the human landscape itself here at Santa Fe Plaza (including the depot, sculpture, signage, and locomotive), what specific aspects about the railroad are important to this community? List a few major aspects that reveal themselves in the landscape here. 

Anchor: Babbitt Brothers Department Store 

1) From the Field: What business currently occupies the ground floor of the original Babbitt Brothers Department Store? How does this business reflect recent economic changes in the downtown and in the Flagstaff economy in general? (Think about what is being sold here, and to whom, for what general purpose.) 

2) From the Field: As a geographer, you are interested in how the interior space of this old building is being used. By "reading" the landscape, determine as closely as possible what functions and/or people occupy the upper floor space. Look in and around the building, in places that are accessible to the public. Finally, list the clues in the landscape that pointed you to your answer. 

Public Park: Heritage Square 

1) From the Field: While walking around Heritage Square and looking carefully, list out as many different themes, or images, that provide some kind of meaning about Flagstaff and its environment. Be sure to list the "themed" item itself and what it was designed to represent about Flagstaff's sense of place. 

2) From the Field: Document the time and day of your appearance here at Heritage Square. Hang out for five or ten minutes and just look around. What kinds of people do you see on or near the Square, and what are they doing? How do they represent the importance of having public spaces such as this one downtown? 

Railroad Hotel: The Weatherford 

1) From the Field: What seems to be happening at the Orpheum Theater lately? Read the landscape to your best ability to answer this question. In this case, what are the limitations of the seen landscape when trying to interpret what is happening at this place? List two unseen aspects of the Orpheum that you would have to investigate to gain more information about this place. 

2) From the Field: List at least six different businesses that exist along Aspen Avenue, just east of the Weatherford Hotel (across from Heritage Square), and along Leroux Street just north of the Weatherford (along the route of the Walk). After listing their names, indicate what most or all of them have in common, considering the clientele they are probably serving. What do these businesses indicate about the changing economy of downtown? 

Courthouse: Hub of a County Seat 

1) From the Field: On this same street corner in front of the courthouse (San Francisco and Birch), you will see a covered, green information sign. Look carefully at the information that has been placed around the glass. What basic type of information is presented there? 

2) From the Field: Do you think this information is being presented primarily for local residents in Flagstaff? Why or why not? 

3) From the Field: Now, look around you at the sidewalk landscape in all directions, paying attention to common, everyday features. Would you consider this a friendly place for pedestrians? Why or why not? 

Office Tower: Bank of America Building

1) From the Field: Compare the façade and form of this building with others surrounding it, listing out some fundamental differences. What explains the notion that this building "just doesn't seem to fit in" with the rest? Think in terms of how the downtown developed over time. 

2) From the Field: The color of this building was until recently a bright turquoise hue - until July, 2002 when its owners (based in Sedona) decided to have the building repainted to how you see it here. Not surprisingly, the changeover enjoyed local media coverage. Given the trends that have been taking place downtown lately, what do you think explains this building's new color? In other words, why did they choose this color when they had a seemingly limitless choice "across the rainbow"? 

Postmodernism: County Administration Building 

1) From the Field: Walking around the building, and perhaps through its entryway to the lobby (if it's open), what features in the building's landscape indicate to you that this is quite an important hub of centralized authority here in downtown Flagstaff? List specific items that support the claim of this building's importance. 

2) From the Field: Compare the front and sides of the building with the back of the building (walk up the hill on San Francisco Street for the best view). How is the front different from the back? What typical American cultural value explains this dramatic difference? (Think of the discussion of middle-class suburban houses in Chapter 2.) 

District: Changes Along Cherry Avenue

1) From the Field: What types of landscape features exist on the south side of Cherry Avenue as opposed to the north side? Did city developers just forget to finish the north side of the street? Explain why this is the case. 

2) From the Field: As you walk along Cherry Avenue, pay attention to the landscape on both sides of the street (beyond the sidewalks). Would you describe this as a "landscape in transition"? Why or why not? Use specific examples that support your answer. 

Presence: Church of the Nativity 

1) From the Field: Describe some features of this church that provide for it a strong presence in the downtown landscape. 

2) From the Field: Is this church still being used? For what? How can you tell by reading the landscape?