Grand Canyon-Flagstaff Stage Coach Line : A History & Exploration Guide (Arizona and the Southwest) [Paperback]

Richard K. Mangum (Author), Sherry G. Mangum (Author)

Book Description

Series: Arizona and the Southwest | Publication Date: June 1999

This meticulously researched and lavishly illustrated volume presents the story of the stagecoach line that opened the Grand Canyon to the world and made Flagstaff, Arizona the Gateway to the Grand Canyon. From 1892 until the close of the 1900 season, the coaches rolled out every summer for a seventy-mile trip that was taken by hundreds, who could scarcely believe what they saw at journey's end. In the 100 years since then, many of the old roads and landmarks have disappeared, only to be re-discovered by the Mangums. More than a history, this book is an exploration guide, with detailed maps and descriptions that guide readers by car, bike and foot along the famous old stagecoach routes and points of interest.

Editorial Reviews

About the Author

Richard Mangum is a native of Flagstaff. From childhood he has enjoyed getting out into the country surrounding his home and exploring the area. After graduating from Flagstaff High School in 1954, he attended the University of Arizona, where he earned a B.A. in English and a J.D. in Law. He practiced law in Flagstaff from 1961 to 1976; then was a Superior Court Judge until he retired in 1993. He is presently engaged full-time in writing, exploring and studying-having the time of his life. He is a Historian-in-Residence at the Museum of Northern Arizona. Sherry Mangum has lived in Flagstaff since she was seven, and remembers always enjoying the outdoors. She inherited a love of photography from her parents, both professionals. Her work is recognized as exceptionally good at capturing the lighting and spirit of her beloved Colorado Plateau and she has been published locally, nationally and internationally since 1978. She is also a Historian-in-Residence at the Museum of Northern Arizona.

Product Details

• Paperback: 100 pages
• Publisher: Hexagon Pr; 1st edition (June 1999)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 1891517015
• ISBN-13: 978-1891517013
• Product Dimensions: 11 x 8.5 x 0.3 inches
• Shipping Weight: 12 ounces (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 5.0 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (1 customer review)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #1,355,155 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

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Most Helpful Customer Reviews

2 of 2 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars All the World's a Stage, May 25, 2006

By 

Don R. Lago (Flagstaff, Arizona) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: Grand Canyon-Flagstaff Stage Coach Line : A History & Exploration Guide (Arizona and the Southwest) (Paperback)

Towns and regions are fortunate if they have a local historian who devotes years to researching and writing their history. Northern Arizona is fortunate to have Richard and Sherry Mangum, who grew up here and have a strong personal interest in and enthusiasm for the region. In this book they've brought to light a fascinating part of Grand Canyon history that barely gets mentioned in other history books. This book is more than just a history of the stage coach line between Flagstaff and the Grand Canyon. It's a great history of Grand Canyon pioneers, the first whites to live at the canyon and open up tourism there. It includes lively characters like John Hance and Pete Berry and Ralph Cameron. Some readers may be surprised to find that the first tourist facilities at the canyon weren't at the current south rim village but at the Grandview area, where there were several hotels and other facilities. The stage coach line may have been brief in duration but it did intoduce the world to the Grand Canyon, bringing up famous writers like John Stoddard, Charles Lummis, and Harriet Monroe, whose reports helped shape public interest in and perceptions of the Grand Canyon. The stage line also turned John Hance into a legendary character. The stage line itself quickly became famous, showing up in Baedeker guide books. It's a bit surprising, then, that it should be thoroughly forgotten. The Mangums have brought this story back to life, digging into obscure sources and puzzling out the missing links in the story. They've also assembled a gallery of seldom-seen photos, such as one with John Hance and Thomas Moran and a donkey. The book offers a portrait of Flagstaff in the 1890s, and details the building of the stage road and the way-stations along the way. For today's explorers, the book offers detailed maps of the old stage route, much of which can be followed today. The book closes with two sections on early bicycling to the canyon, and the arrival of the automobile age. This is a unique and rich contribution to Grand Canyon history.