Northern Arizona is home to the world’s largest continuous stand of ponderosa pine forest, and the import and impact of its valuable timber is deeply woven into the region’s history.
Now visitors to a new exhibit can trace the story of the region’s forests, from the ancestral environmental care practices of the region’s Indigenous communities to the founding of the Northern Arizona University (NAU) School of Forestry in 1958.
TIMBER! Northern Arizona’s Logging Legacy provides a visual story of more than 100 years of lumber and timber history and its impact on the communities of the greater Flagstaff area. It is now on display in Cline Library Special Collections and Archives (SCA) and online. SCA houses numerous collections related to the history of northern Arizona’s forests; these collections are available to the public for research.
NAU student Alex Williams, SCA’s 2024 Elizabeth M. and P.T. Reilly intern, worked closely with SCA staff to develop the TIMBER! exhibit. Williams, a senior from Phoenix, is pursuing degrees in Comparative Cultural Studies and History. While all NAU students are “Lumberjacks”, Williams also demonstrates real-life lumberjack skills as the administrative captain of the NAU Logging Sports Team. In addition, she volunteers at Riordan Mansion State Park, the 19th century home of the Riordan brothers, then owners of Flagstaff’s largest employer, the Arizona Lumber and Timber Company.
Plan Your Visit
In Person. The physical exhibit is on display through July 2, 2025.
- Visit the physical exhibit any time Special Collections and Archives is open. View Special Collections and Archives hours
- View a companion mini-exhibit in a display case located in the main computing area on the first floor anytime Cline Library is open. View Cline Library hours
- A selection of related images is on display in the Scholars’ Corner café adjacent to the library entrance. View Scholars’ Corner hours
View Cline Library location and parking information.
Online. The online TIMBER! exhibit can be viewed at any time and will continue to be accessible after the close of the physical exhibit.