Flagstaff in Coconino County, Arizona — The American Mountains (Southwest)

Logging Wheels

Photographed by Adam Margolis, May 26, 2024

1. Logging Wheels Marker

Inscription.
Maker - Silas Overpack Wheelwright, Manslee, MI
c. 1900

Also known as Michigan High Wheels, Big Wheels, or Skid Wheels, these wheels were the workhouse of the forest. The large wheel here made it easy to transport logs over rough terrain. The wheels were positioned over the logs and the tongue lifted up, then the logs were attached to the axle with a chain. When the tong was brought back down it would lift the logs off the ground suspending them under the wheels. They were dragged by a team of horses to where they would be loaded on the Central Arizona Railway to be brought to the Arizona Lumber and Timber Company mill.

This set of wheels spent many years greeting visitors as they entered Flagstaff from the west on Route 66.

Topics. This historical marker is listed in these topic lists: Horticulture & Forestry • Industry & Commerce • Railroads & Streetcars • Roads & Vehicles. A significant historical year for this entry is 1900.

Location. 35° 13.39′ N, 111° 39.292′ W. Marker is in Flagstaff, Arizona, in Coconino County. It is on Fort Valley Road, on the right when traveling north. Touch for map. Marker

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is at or near this postal address: 2340 North Fort Valley Road, Flagstaff AZ 86001, United States of America. Touch for directions.

Regionally, this marker is in Flagstaff & High Country

and in Hopi.

It is also in the American Southwest,

in the Mountain West,

in Colorado Plateau,

and at the Four Corners.

Globally, it is in North America,

the Western Hemisphere,

the Western World,

and the Anglosphere.

Historically, it finds itself in what was once New Spain

and also Mexico’s Alta California.

Other nearby markers. At least 8 other markers are within 2 miles of this marker, measured as the crow flies: Emerson School Bell (within shouting distance of this marker); Beale Road (within shouting distance of this marker); "Bear" Howard's Chuck Box (within shouting distance of this marker); Julius Aubineau (within shouting distance of this marker); Flagstaff Flag - Raising (approx. 1.1 miles away); Finding History and Wildlife at Frances Short Pond (approx. 1.2 miles away); Buffalo Park (approx. 1.3 miles away); Beale Wagon Road (approx. 1.3 miles away). Touch for a list and map of all markers in Flagstaff.

More about this marker.

Photographed by Adam Margolis, May 26, 2024

2. Logging Wheels Marker

The wheel and marker are on the grounds of the pioneer museum.

Credits. This page was last revised on June 28, 2025. It was originally submitted on December 17, 2024, by Adam Margolis of Mission Viejo, California. This page has been viewed 214 times since then and 27 times this year. Photos: 1, 2. submitted on December 17, 2024, by Adam Margolis of Mission Viejo, California. • Andrew Ruppenstein was the editor who published this page.