It is always a bonus when I learn something new when visiting a location. I came across this statue after lunch at Dara Thai. I wanted to check out the Flagstaff Train Station when I came across it. The statue is of a railroad worker before the turn of the century, hammering a spike for laying down railroad rails.

The workers were known as “Gandy Dancers.” According to the sign at the statue, the rail workers had to move together because one worker could not move the rail alone. The movement resembled a dance while they also sang to time their movement. The Gandy part is said to come from the name of the company that manufactured the tools used on the railroad.  Always good to learn something new.

Directions: located at the corner of Old Route 66 and San Fransisco st., next to the Flagstaff train station

John W. Weatherford built this hotel in 1900. The hotel was known as one of the finest hotels in the west. Dignitaries such as William Randolph Hearst, former President Theodore Roosevelt and Old West author, Zane Grey have stayed at the hotel. Today, although the hotel is still open for business, it is mostly known as a haunted motel. Several ghost are apparently making the hotel their home. One of the most notable is a newlywed couple that were murdered in room 54 in the 1930’s. They were often seen sitting together at the foot of the bed. Room 54 has been converted into a storage room but the couple are still seen entering the room from the hallway.

Does that make you want to stay at the hotel or avoid it? Either way, the hotel is very nice and is listed as an historic landmark.

Address: 23 N Leroux St, Flagstaff, AZ

The Pioneer Museum is part of the Arizona Historical Society. It is housed in the former Flagstaff Hospital. The hospital was built in 1908 and served until 1938. The museum has displays and artifacts of life in pioneer Flagstaff. The area was import for ranching and logging. The building is hard to see from the road but you can’t missed the old steam train on display just for the road. That is what caught my attention.
There us an entrance fee of $6 for adults, $3 for children but free for children under six.

Address: 2340 N Fort Valley Rd, Flagstaff, AZ

Hours:  Monday through Saturday, 9:00am to 5:00pm; Sunday 9:00am to 4:00pm

This is a very large restaurant located on the south side of old town Flagstaff. Wait staff are friendly but I stopped I for lunch and the crowd was big and the staff were running about trying to keep up with things.

I decided to try their Penang Curry with chicken. It is available in a lunch size portion that comes with a salad. Their spice range is from 1 to 5. I selected 2 which was a little too spicy for what I wanted this day. But these numbers are always hit or miss as there is no exact science as to what level 1-5 is. The salad was small but good. It was an enjoyable meal for lunch. By the way, this was very authentic!

Address:  14 S San Francisco St, Flagstaff, AZ

Hours:  Monday through Saturday, 11:00am to 10:00pm, Sunday 3:00pm to 9:00pm