McMillan Building
Introduction
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The McMillan Building was completed by the father of Flagstaff, Thomas F. McMillan, in 1888. It is one of the many historic buildings in the city.
Backstory and Context
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Thomas Forsythe McMillan was born in Tennessee on January 1, 1833. As a young man, he joined the countless number of prospectors who went to California in search of gold. He then traveled to Australia where he raised sheep. How long he was there isn't clear but he finally arrived in Arizona in 1876 and established a homestead a few miles north of the city. McMillan again raised sheep and also built a ranch house, which still stands and is operated by the Museum of Northern Arizona. On July 4th of that 1876, a group of pioneers from Boston camped near a spring on his newly acquired land. They cut down a pine tree, cut off the branches, and hoisted it up with an American flag attached at the top. This flag raising ceremony was how the city got its name.
McMillan became one of the more successful sheep ranchers in the the state. He also contributed to the town's early development, serving as chairman of the Board of Supervisors, the first Postmaster, and as a member of the first library board. As noted above, he finished the building in 1888 and it initially operated as a bank and a hotel. In 1892, the hotel became the terminus of a stagecoach service that brought guests to and from the Grand Canyon. At some point, too, the building operated an opera house on the first floor that became a popular entertainment and gathering venue. McMillan and his family eventually moved into the building.
When Thomas McMillan died in 1906, his wife Kate continued to manage the hotel. Their daughter, Mary, and her husband George Fleming took over when Kate passed away in 1923. It is unclear how long the hotel operated and the building is presently home to a restaurant and other businesses.
Sources
"Detailed Obituary Information for Thomas Forsythe McMillan, Senior:" Northern Arizona University, Cline Library. Accessed September 24, 2020. https://cf.nau.edu/library/da/obits/display/show_rec.cfm?obit_id=3402.
"Flagstaff Flag-Raising." The Historical Marker Database. Accessed September 24, 2020. https://www.hmdb.org/m.asp?m=33365.
"McMillan Building 1887." The Historical Marker Database. Accessed September 24, 2020. https://www.hmdb.org/m.asp?m=33271.
The Historical Marker Database