The San Francisco Peaks and Flagstaff Through the Lens of Time

In this extended visual essay across more than 150 years of time, historical drawings and photographs of the San Francisco Peaks and Flagstaff in northern Arizona are precisely paired with recent images taken at the exact same location, time of year, and time of day. Author John L. Vankat, an experienced plant ecologist and teacher, reveals the telling historical and natural details that provide meaning and context to each photo set. Watch history unfold, documenting the effects of lumber mills, early settlement, tourism, and urban growth in and around a mountain town at the apex of Arizona. Here, near the southern edge of the Colorado Plateau, human effort and energy have remade the forest environment, but the storied San Francisco Peaks remain a touchstone of timeless natural beauty. Vankat gives us a chance to celebrate this special place as it was, and as it is today—and to judge for ourselves what its past and present might say about the future of the American West.

John L. Vankat is a plant ecologist, photographer, and historian specializing in the ecology of forest fires. His long-term interest in the history and dynamics of forests led to an early fascination with repeat photography, in which historical photographs are duplicated as closely as possible to show the changes that have taken place over time. Vankat believes rephotography projects can entertain while also educating the public, land managers, and scientists about how our policies and actions affect forests over time.

Preface Part I: Northern Arizona’s San Francisco Peaks Chapter 1: Touchstone and Landmark Chapter 2: Introduction to the Ecology of the San Francisco Peaks Part II: First Images Chapter 3: Drawings Before Cameras Chapter 4: Early Photographs Part III: Early Flagstaff Chapter 5: Old Town Chapter 6: Mill Town Chapter 7: New Town Part IV: The Outskirts of Early Flagstaff Chapter 8: North to Beauty Chapter 9: West to Observatory Mesa Chapter 10: South to Campus Chapter 11: East to Elden Part V: Pinyon-Juniper Woodland Near the Peaks Chapter 12: Introduction to the Ecology of Pinyon-Juniper Woodland Chapter 13: To the East Chapter 14: Among Volcanoes to the North Chapter 15: Along the Grand Canyon Stagecoach Route Part VI: Ponderosa Pine Forest and Grassland Around the Peaks Chapter 16: Introduction to the Ecology of Ponderosa Pine Forest and Grassland Chapter 17: Among Volcanoes to the East Chapter 18: In Fort Valley Chapter 19: By Kendrick Park Part VII: Mixed Conifer Forest and Quaking Aspen Forest On the Peaks Chapter 20: Introduction to the Ecology of Mixed Conifer and Quaking Aspen Forests Chapter 21: Near Hart Prairie Chapter 22: By Little Spring Part VIII: Spruce-Fir Forest and Alpine Tundra Atop the Peaks Chapter 23: Introduction to the Ecology of Spruce-Fir Forest and Alpine Tundra Chapter 24: High on the Peaks Afterword Acknowledgments Notes Bibliography Appendix A. List of Plant and Animal Species Appendix B. Index of Historical Images Index About the Author About the Publisher