Charles F. Whittlesey, the Santa Fe’s chief architect who became well-known for his reinforced concrete buildings, also designed more rustic buildings in the Arts and Crafts style–the El Tovar at the Grand Canyon being the most notable. In 1903, while living in Albuquerque to supervise the construction of the Alvarado, Whittlesey designed homes in the arts and crafts style for both himself in Albuquerque and the Riordan brothers in Flagstaff. Both of these homes have many features in common with the El Tovar–exteriors of log and stone, log-slab siding, Norwegian-style cutout railings and wainscoting, wide verandas, and inglenooks.
The Riordan mansion was designed as two separate 6,000-sq. ft. residences connected by a 1,000-sq. ft. Rendezvous room, referred to be the Riordans as the “cabin.” Tim and Michael Riordan had married two sisters–Caroline and Elizabeth Metz. The Riordans’ mansion was located within walking distance of their Arizona Lumber and Timber Company offices and operations.
Donated by their descendents to the State of Arizona, the mansion is now a part of the state park system and hour-long guided tours are given by park rangers. See Riordan Mansion State Historic Park for more details.
