The end of summer is quickly approaching! July and August are typically the busiest months at Riordan Mansion State Historic Park and this year is no exception. Thanks to the wonderful volunteers who have given of their time and talent, the park has been able to accommodate all the guests wanting to tour the mansion.

Have you been on a tour?
No two tours are alike! There is more information than what can be shared on a one-hour tour. Each tour is unique, showcasing our amazing staff and volunteers.

Come again… come often… bring a friend!

Reservations are recommended!

Riordan Mansion is fully self-funded.

All of the parks expenses are funded by:
• admission fees
• special events
• donations

NO TAX DOLLARS are received by this Park!

Special Thanks to Our Invaluable Partners:
•Arizona Historical Society
•Northern Arizona Pioneer Historical Society
•City of Flagstaff
•Volunteers and Donors

A treasure worth saving

Riordan Mansion State Historic Park is An “Arts and Crafts Style” home built in 1904 for Timothy and Michael Riordan, owners of the Arizona Lumber and Timber Company. The Riordan family was instrumental in the development of Flagstaff and northern Arizona.

Mark Your Calendar:

August 21 The Arizona Rough Riders 10:00am – 4:00pm Free!
(Living History Presentation)
The Arizona Rough Riders is a commemorative group that brings the Spanish/American War era (1898) to life for audiences. Dressed in authentic period dress of the famous Rough Riders, and their ladies, and carrying 100 year old weapons for the public’s examination, the Arizona Rough Riders describe the era, the war, the effects, and the social mores of turn of the century America. The troop depicted actually came from Prescott 100 years ago. Flagstaff men also went to the war in the famous “cowboy cavalry”. The Rough Riders are the most famous ‘all volunteer unit’ in the history of the US Military.

Please note our Summer hours, open Thursday – Monday, 9:30am – 5:00pm with tours beginning at 10:00 a.m. and continuing throughout the day at the top of the hour, the last tour of the day is always 4:00 p.m. Reservations are always recommended. (closed Tuesdays and Wednesdays) Riordan is OPEN all weekends and holidays (except Christmas)-bring your friends, spread the word!!

Riordan Mansion State Historic Park is open under an agreement with the Arizona Historical Society.

Riordan Mansion State Historic Park
409 W. Riordan Rd.
Flagstaff, Arizona 86001
928.779.4395
fax 928.556.0253
www.azstateparks.com

RAN on the web: www.riordanmansion.org

RAN on Facebook: “Save Riordan Mansion”

Please note that we are now on our Summer hours, open Thursday – Monday, 9:30am – 5:00pm with tours beginning at 10:00 a.m. and continuing throughout the day at the top of the hour, the last tour of the day is always 4:00 p.m. Reservations are always recommended. (closed Tuesdays and Wednesdays) Riordan is OPEN all weekends and holidays (except Christmas)-bring your friends, spread the word!!

Riordan Mansion State Historic Park is open under an agreement with the Arizona Historical Society. This is because the Arizona State Legislature has swept the funds of Arizona State Parks. Funding comes entirely from fees charged at the Park and donations, and funds raised by the Riordan Action Network. For more information, please email RiordanActionNet@aol.com or see their website www.riordanmansion.org

On-Going Series of Brown Bag Lunch Lectures, 2nd Monday of Each Month 12:15pm

Monday, Jul 12
An Arizona Century Progress Report
Presented by Lisa Schnebly Heidinger
Lisa Schnebly Heidinger has been working on the state centennial book for several years. During the process of putting together a timeline with between five and a dozen events for every year between 1912 and 2012, she’s learned a lot about our state..and found out some things she thought she knew weren’t true! From where the Yuma Territorial Prison cells are to who the Buckey O’Neill statue is, Lisa will give us an update on what’s been happening in Arizona for the past 98 years!
*************************************************************************

Evening Slide Presentation Series, 7pm RSVP Free!
(Program is Free. Reservations are recommended due to limited availability.)

Saturday, July 17
Arizona Rangers
Presented by Richard and Sherry Mangum
During the 1880s and 1890s the Wild West disappeared from the American landscape. The last holdout was Arizona, which was still a lawless territory when the new century dawned in 1900. While Arizona’s stage robbers, rustlers, cardsharks and gunfighters liked the wildness just fine, the cattlemen, miners, railroad companies and law-abiding citizens wanted statehood and an end to lawlessness. It was obvious that the existing system was unable to cope, so under the governor’s urging the legislature created a special crime-fighting force in 1901 called the Arizona Rangers. RSVP!!

There were only fourteen men in the unit, but this brave and determined group soon began bringing the outlaws into line, using whatever force was necessary. The Rangers were soon expanded to twenty-six men, allowing them to put more pressure on the badmen and to cover the entire territory. They were so effective that by 1909 the legislature decided the Rangers were no longer needed and disbanded the outfit.

The Arizona Rangers wrote the last chapter in the saga of the Wild West, and a more colorful group never wore a badge.

Friday, Jul 23
Eleanor Roosevelt and Isabella Greenway: Selections from Their 50 Year Correspondence
Presented by Kristie Miller, Historian
For half a century, Eleanor Roosevelt and Isabella Greenway, two of the most remarkable women of our times, wrote to each other of their lives, losses, and families, of their political ambitions and their outlooks on life. They met in their teens, supported each other as they nursed invalid husbands and desperately ill children, and, eventually, became key players in the public life of their times – Eleanor as First lady and Isabella as Arizona’s only Representative in Congress during the New Deal. Isabella Greenway’s biographer, Kristie Miller, editor of A Volume of Friendship: The Letters of Eleanor Roosevelt and Isabella Greenway 1904-1953 and Riordan Mansion’s Kathy Farretta will read selections of these letters.

Colleagues:

As you may know, Arizona State Parks, the agency responsible for
managing some of our  natural, historic, cultural and recreational
treasures, has been underfunded for decades and is now is in a state of
crisis. Due to budget cuts enacted by the Arizona State Legislature and
signed by Governor Jan Brewer, the state’s park system is on the verge
of complete collapse. A documentary film project entitled “Postcards
from the Parks,” created by four friends who visited all of the parks
over a six-month period, details the problems our state parks face and
how it effects us all. Our crisis isn’t the result of the recent
economic downturn, but the results of a decade of budget cuts during
times of feast and famine at the capitol. Now, we’ve reached critical
mass and we need to look for solutions.

Come and see the film and join the conversation so we can ensure that
our parks thrive, grow and continue to enrich the lives of Arizonans for
generations to come. The film “Postcards From The Parks” will be shown
in Tempe and Tucson on the following days and times:

- Thursday, July 8 at 7:30PM (doors open at 7pm), Madcap Theaters, 730 S
Mill Avenue in Tempe (480) 634-5192;

- Thursday, July 22 at 7:30PM (doors open at 7pm), Grand Cinemas
Crossroads 6, 4811 E Grant (NE corner of Grant & Swan) in Tucson (520)
327-7067.

After the showing of the film, I’ll be moderating a discussion with the
audience, the filmmakers and other state parks advocates. This is a
great chance to talk about what we can do to turn this around. Bring
your ideas.

This is free to the public, sponsored by funding  the Arizona Heritage
Alliance, Wells Fargo Bank, and the producers of the film.

If you cannot attend one of these screenings, please contact the Arizona
Heritage Alliance at mail at azheritage.org, (602) 528-7500 or go to
www.postcardsfromtheparks.org for more information.

Let’s work together to find a solution. I hope to see you at one of the
showings.

–
Vincent Murray
Historian
Arizona Historical Research
5025 North Central Avenue
Suite 575
Phoenix, AZ 85012-1520
(480) 829-0267 office
(480) 227-8173 cell
vince at azhistory.net

RAN’s first event was a huge success!  With a limit of 100 tickets to sell, the event sold out!  Erik Larson wowed the crowd with music from original recordings from the early 1900s through the mid 1940s. He also shared stories about the Riordan family and some of the songs that they particularly loved.

As of this writing, donations are still coming in for the event but it is expected to raise nearly $3000.

A big thanks to all the staff and volunteers who worked tirelessly to make this the success it was:

Mike Davis
Nikki Lober
Kathy Farretta
Tony Schierl
Diane Bedair
Bailey Both
Susan Campbell
Rosemary Gray *
Gwen Groth
Desi Groth
Lee Lansing
Erik Larson *
Mary Anne Larson
Charlotte Madden *
Pat Madden
Donna Muhlenkamp *
Roger Muhlenkamp
Adrienne Rose *
Tom Rose
John Ruggles
Marilyn Ruggles
Dave Washabau
Karen Washabau *
Margie White
Girl Scouts  Troop 212
*  Members of the Planning Committee

What Comes In Must Go Out
Riordan Mansion State Historic Park is now officially self-funded. Funds cannot be swept. Funds stay at the park.

Riordan Mansion State Historic Park is now officially self-supporting. Expenses that cannot be paid by admissions and events must be paid for with donations.

Funds raised by RAN as of May 25:  $39,193.97 (including music event to date)
Upcoming Expenses:  Salary, gift shop items and credit card machine

Only YOU can preserve Riordan Mansion! (Upcoming Volunteer/Donor Opportunities)

• Admissions are money! With enough tour guides, we have the ability to run double tours.

• Flagstaff Community Event on June 20, 11:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m.
Flagstaff Community Band plays from 2:00 – 4:00
A fun day for Flagstaff families to enjoy the summer weather!
There will be music, raffle prizes and a bake sale!
Bake Sale items are needed
Volunteers are needed (setup, raffle table, bake sale table, West House, tour guides, event clean-up, and more!)

Email RiordanActionNet@aol.com for more information or to volunteer/donate.

Thank you for your support of RAN and Riordan Mansion State Historic Park!!

RIORDAN STATUS:  It finally happened! The agreement between the Arizona Historical Society and Arizona State Parks was signed off by ASP at 3 PM on May 20^th.  It seemed like a long time in coming.  But, if you remember, we were told at an ASP Board meeting on Jan. 15, 2010 that RMSHP would close on Feb. 22, 2010.  That was a short time ago, and here we are today with an agreement for AHS to manage the park for the next three years with the option to renew for two more three-year periods.

What the PUBLIC will see will be no change.  The Park continues its present schedule (Thursday – Monday with tours on the hour with the first tour at 10 AM during the summer and into the fall).  However, WE all know that there is a BIG change.  We need to get the word out to the public that NO money from the state is supporting the park.  All funding will come from entrance fees, gift shop sales, special events and fund raisers, donations, and RAN.  These funds cannot be swept by the AZ Legislature.  Our crisis is not over, and our work has just begun.  Please be sure to spread the word that the park is open for business and about the continued need for support.  Increased visitation will be critical to our success as will be donations and fund raising.

STATE PARKS BOARD MEETINGS: At the ASP Board meeting on May 19^th, administration announced several agreements completed or in the works to keep more state parks open.  The parks which have already been closed will remain closed for the near future.  The parks which were not slated for closure will remain open.  The next ASP Board meeting is scheduled over two days (June 16^th and 17^th) at Tonto Natural Bridge State Park.  Watch the website for more details and an agenda.   www.azstateparks.com.

EVENTS AND PROMOTIONS:

Take Action Tuesday:   TAT benefited RAN in March and April.   RAN hopes to get the final totals soon.

Come & Play Back in the Day: Girl Scout Troop 212 hosted a fun Saturday afternoon on May 1^st at the Riordan Mansion State Historic Park.  A big “THANK YOU” to the girls and their leaders for such a fun event and for donating the proceeds and money earned from the bake sale to support the Riordan Mansion.  Also, thanks to volunteers for donating items for the bake sale.

Arizona Highways Subscription promotion:  Arizona Highways is supporting Arizona State Parks by donating $5/subscription (12 issues for $24) to the park of the subscriber’s choice or to benefit all state parks through the Arizona State Parks Foundation.  A special promo code must be used when filling out the State Parks Special order form.  The code for the Riordan Mansion is VOCPRM.  I’m not sure if this promotion is still going on, but check the web-site for more info:  www.arizonahighways.com/stateparks.html.

Erik Larson’s “Popular Music of the Riordan Years”:  Last night’s musical gala in the ballroom at the Riordan Mansion was a GREAT success.  Many kudos and thanks go out to Erik for the entertaining program and to the fund raising committee – Karen Washabau, Rosemary Gray, Charlotte Madden, Donna Muhlenkamp, and Adrienne Rose.  It was a lot of hard work, and you all did a wonderful job.  Also, many thanks to Gwen for the tickets and flyers; the volunteers and other helpers; individuals and businesses who donated; and the rangers.  We’ve proven that miracles can happen when we all work together.  The event was a sell-out with $2,525 raised from ticket sales alone.  There was also money given in donations, but RAN doesn’t yet know the total.

Flagstaff Community Band Concert/Raffle: This is the next fund raising event which will also be a “thank-you” to the people of Flagstaff.  It will be happening on the afternoon of June 20^th on the front patio of the house.  Watch for further details.  If you would like to help the fund raising committee with this event (or any others), please let Marilyn know at rgglsandcat@juno.com, and she will pass along your contact info to the committee.

Housekeeping items:

♦ RAN’s website, www.riordanmansion.org has more and more info and postings all    the time.  Check it out and ask your contacts to do the same.

♦ RAN’s e-mail address is riordanactionnet@aol.com

♦ Donations should be mailed to:
Riordan Action Network
PMB 190
2532 N. 4^th St.
Flagstaff, AZ  86004

Checks should be made out to Northern Arizona Pioneer Historical Society or NAPHS, and Riordan Mansion must be written on the notes line of the check.

Remember:  The need for donations continues to exist!

Arizona State Legislature: The State Legislature ended its session at the end of last month.  However, that doesn’t mean that we relax and wait for the next session to begin.  The campaigns

have already begun.  If you are not registered to vote, please consider doing so in time to vote in the primary election on August 24, 2010.  The general election takes place on November 2, 2010.

We need to educate ourselves on the issues and the candidates.  Remember:  no vote in the House of Representatives during the last session was 60 – 0.  No vote in the Senate was 30 – 0.  Let’s not sweep out all the present members of the Legislature and replace them just because we didn’t like the votes of some.  The LegislaTURE is made up of individual legislaTORS.  We need to keep those who have worked in the best interests of the state of Arizona and its citizens in order to restore this state to a place we want to live.

Thank you all for your interest and your support!  We’ve worked hard, but we’ve still got a lot of work to do to keep the Riordan Mansion State Historic Park open so that all may enjoy it for years to come.  It takes all of us working together to be successful.  If you would like to get more involved, please let me know.

Marilyn Ruggles
RAN Steering Committee

This is such a short update that I’m writing it as an e-mail rather than as an attached Word document.  The attached document is info about the big musical benefit happening in the ballroom at the Riordan Mansion on May 21st.  Since there will only be 100 tickets sold, and they are being sold in advance, RAN wanted to get word to its loyal participants early.  Get your tickets SOON, or there may be none left.

There is still no news about the agreement between AZ State Parks and the AZ Historical Society.  However, the park remains open Thursday through Mon.  We’re now on summer hours.  The park opens to the public at 9:30 AM with the first tour going out at 10 AM.

The only other news is that the legislature finished up at 11:07 Thursday night.  No more damage can be done for now.  About the best that we can say that the legislature did for AZ State Parks is that they voted down some bad bills which would have hurt parks even more.  The latest, the give-away of Lake Havasu to the city of Lake Havasu, failed in the Senate 12 – 18.  At least the park will stay in the system (if there still is a State Parks system after July 1)to generate revenue to help fund the parks.  Please remember that none of the votes on bills concerning state parks was 60 – 0 or 30 – 0.  There are some state senators and representatives who have attempted to help AZ State Parks.  Please educate yourself on which legislators are friends of state parks, and support them in the upcoming elections.

Marilyn Ruggles
RAN Steering Committee

Refreshments and door prizes will round out the evening.

This historic evening will be the first time a public event has been held inside the mansion since the Riordan family lived there.

Tickets are $25.00 each, and can be purchased at Riordan Mansion State Historic Park (928-779-4395) or the Pioneer Museum (928-774-6272) starting on May 1.  Only 100 tickets will be sold.

All proceeds will go to the Riordan Action Network to help pay Park staff salaries, maintain and preserve the buildings and artifacts, and provide educational programs and outreach.

April 18, 2010

Hello everyone,

RIORDAN STATUS: The agreement between the Arizona Historical Society and Arizona State Parks is still in the AZ Attorney General’s Office where it must be reviewed before it can be in effect.  District 2 State Representative Tom Chabin has made inquiries of the AG’s Office on the Park’s behalf.  The Park continues its present schedule (Thursday – Monday with tours on the hour).  Volunteers:  Please continue to stay informed and in touch.  The Park and staff will need you more than ever.

STATE PARKS BOARD MEETING: The next AZ State Parks Board meeting is scheduled for April 21, 2010 at the AZ State Parks Board Room at 1300 W. Washington in Phoenix.  The public portion of the meeting starts at 10 AM.  The agenda is posted on the website:  www.azstateparks.com.

UP-COMING EVENTS AND PROMOTIONS: I was going to attach fliers for the following events/promotions, but they were huge.  Knowing that many of you can’t open my attachments anyway, I’m just summarizing.  I have given you the web-sites where you can get more info.

Take Action Tuesday:   TAT benefited RAN last month and was a big success.  The donations are still being tallied, and the total will be announced soon.  I can tell you that the amount is SIGNIFICANT!  And, DBA and the businesses have decided to AGAIN donate the proceeds to RAN this month.  TAT will be on Tuesday, April 27^th.  You can  check for the list of participating businesses on the DBA website:  www.flagdba.com.  Be sure to keep checking the list on-line.  We’ve been told that more businesses may be added.  Most of the businesses are the ones who participated last month.  Thank-you notes were sent to those businesses.  Please also thank them personally when you, your friends, neighbors, etc. visit them again on the 27^th.  They are:

Fratelli Pizza, Mama Burger, Bigfoot BBQ, Altitudes Grill, Criollo, Tinderbox, Café Pickles, La Bellavia, Brookside Chocolate, Really Good Stuff Thrift, Seasoned Kitchen, Black Hound Gallerie, Sage Brush, Basement Marketplace, and Fizz Bath Shop.

Come & Play Back in the Day: Girl Scout Troop 212 is hosting a fun Saturday afternoon on May 1^st from 2 – 4 PM at the Riordan Mansion State Historic Park.  Please come to enjoy early 20^th century crafts, food, and games.  Suggested donations of $1 per child will be donated by Troup 212 to help keep Riordan Mansion open.  This event will also be a lot of fun for Mom and Dad and Grandma and Grandpa.  You might even want to make reservations for a tour for the same day.  It will be a busy day at the Park, so please call early for reservations:  928-779-4395.  Regular tour fees will be in effect.  Let’s show the Girl Scouts how much we appreciate their efforts and their support!  Volunteers:  If you would like to donate food for the bake sale, please let Nikki know.

Arizona Highways Subscription promotion:  Arizona Highways is supporting Arizona State Parks by donating $5/subscription (12 issues for $24) to the park of the subscriber’s choice or to benefit all state parks through the Arizona State Parks Foundation.  A special promo code must be used when filling out the State Parks Special order form.  The code for the Riordan Mansion is VOCPRM.  Check the web-site for more info:  www.arizonahighways.com/stateparks.html.  RAN will have a representative passing out promotional fliers and speaking at the Roger Clyne and the Peacemakers concert this Friday night, April 23^rd at the Green Room.

Housekeeping items:

♦ RAN’s website, www.riordanmansion.org has more and more info and postings all    the time.  Check it out and ask your contacts to do the same.

♦ RAN’s e-mail address is riordanactionnet@aol.com

♦ Donations should be mailed to:

Riordan Action Network
PMB 190
2532 N. 4^th St.
Flagstaff, AZ  86004

Checks should be made out to Northern Arizona Pioneer Historical Society or NAPHS, and Riordan Mansion must be written on the notes line of the check.

Fund-raising:

The date for Erik Larson’s musical event in the Riordan Mansion ballroom is not yet set.  RAN plans a silent auction to be held in conjunction with Erik’s musical extravaganza.  Please help us get the word out about upcoming events and plan to participate yourself.  If you are interested in volunteering your talents, skills, and time for the fund raising committee, they would appreciate your help.  Please contact Marilyn at rgglsandcat@juno.com, and she will pass along your contact info to the committee.  They will be starting by following up on the many offers that RAN has already gotten for fund-raising events and items.

Thank you all for your interest and your support!  We’ve worked hard, but we’ve still got a lot of work to do to keep the Riordan Mansion State Historic Park open so that all may enjoy it for years to come.  It takes all of us working together to be successful.  If you would like to get more involved, please let me know.

Marilyn Ruggles

RAN Steering Committee