Institution

<p>In 1881, Phoenix was incorporated as a city. One of the first of several important events which revolutionized the economy of Phoenix was the establishment of a railroad system in the 1880s. Phoenix thus became the most important trade center in Arizona. In 1888, the city offices were moved into a new City Hall, at Washington Street and Central Avenue and in 1889, the territorial capital was moved from the town of Prescott&nbsp;to Phoenix.&nbsp;When the territorial capital was moved from Prescott to Phoenix in 1889 the temporary territorial offices were also located in City Hall.</p><p>The need for the establishment of hotels and living quarters was apparent. In 1893, Phoenix pioneer and businessman A.D. Walsh had a hotel built in the corner of what is now known as 6th Avenue and Adams Street and named it the 6th Avenue Hotel. The proper address of the building, which originally was a two-story brick Victorian styled structure, is 546&nbsp;W. Adams Street.</p><p>In 1925, the hotel was renamed the Windsor Hotel. In the 1930s the Windsor went through a remodeling process in which a third story was added. The third story brick structure has a stucco facade on the south and west walls. A front brick addition with casement windows mixed the Victorian architecture with a modern facade. In the 1950s, it was finally renamed the "New" Windsor Hotel.</p><p>No longer used as a hotel, it is now a low cost haven for the elderly poor in downtown Phoenix.</p>

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The New Windsor Hotel, also known as the 6th Avenue Hotel - Windsor Hotel, is the only 19th century hotel which is still in use in the Phoenix, Arizona, original town-site.

New Windsor Hotel

This walking tour includes some of the historical markers, landmarks, and historic buildings of Phoenix and concludes with a walk around Heritage Square.

<p>In 1881, Phoenix was incorporated as a city. One of the first of several important events which revolutionized the economy of Phoenix was the establishment of a railroad system in the 1880s. Phoenix thus became the most important trade center in Arizona. In 1888, the city offices were moved into a new City Hall, at Washington Street and Central Avenue and in 1889, the territorial capital was moved from the town of Prescott&nbsp;to Phoenix.&nbsp;When the territorial capital was moved from Prescott to Phoenix in 1889 the temporary territorial offices were also located in City Hall.</p><p>The need for the establishment of hotels and living quarters was apparent. In 1893, Phoenix pioneer and businessman A.D. Walsh had a hotel built in the corner of what is now known as 6th Avenue and Adams Street and named it the 6th Avenue Hotel. The proper address of the building, which originally was a two-story brick Victorian styled structure, is 546&nbsp;W. Adams Street.</p><p>In 1925, the hotel was renamed the Windsor Hotel. In the 1930s the Windsor went through a remodeling process in which a third story was added. The third story brick structure has a stucco facade on the south and west walls. A front brick addition with casement windows mixed the Victorian architecture with a modern facade. In the 1950s, it was finally renamed the "New" Windsor Hotel.</p><p>No longer used as a hotel, it is now a low cost haven for the elderly poor in downtown Phoenix.</p><p><br></p>

<div>The Orpheum Theater is of Spanish Medieval and Baroque Revival-style. It is Phoenix's only remaining example of theater palace architecture. Originally built for vaudeville in 1929 shortly before the Great Depression, the Orpheum is the only theater in the Valley designated as historic. In 1987 it was officially listed on the National Register of Historic Places&nbsp;and received its landmark designation in 2004.</div><div><br></div><div>When television became popular in the late 1950s to early '60s, the Orpheum and other theaters were replaced as mainstream America's main form of entertainment. The Orpheum remained reasonably successful for close to two decades thereafter&nbsp;but changed hands a few times. In efforts to "modernize" the theater and increase attendance, various owners during this time eradicated much of the theater's original artistry. By 1980, the once elegant Orpheum Theater had fallen into disrepair.</div><div><br></div><div>In 1984, the City of Phoenix purchased the downtown theater, and together with the Orpheum Foundation (founded by The Junior League of Phoenix), soon began a major restoration project. After 12 years and more than $14 million (about half of which was funded by voter-approved bonds), the Orpheum was restored to its former grandeur, and reopened in 1997 with Carol Channing in “Hello Dolly.”</div><div><strong><br></strong></div><div><strong>Audience Chamber</strong></div><div><ul><li>The audience chamber (now called the "Lewis Auditorium" in honor of Jewell and Delbert Lewis and family), is an awe-inspiring space that effectively simulates a fine Spanish villa's courtyard.</li><li>The famous ceiling imitates a bright sunset with moving clouds by employing colored cove lights. When the lights go down, the ceiling becomes a dark "sky" with twinkling stars.</li><li>Ornate plaster columnns are covered with gold leaf accents, and a clay tile roof lays atop the rear wall's arched opening.</li><li>Elaborate elliptical staircases and banisters are on both sides of the chamber, one featuring foil peacocks with aqua glaze, the other Phoenix birds, cherubs, and starbursts.</li><li>Beautiful wall murals by David Swing, one of Phoenix’s most prolific and best-known artists of the early 20th century, once again display mountains, canyons and Arizona plants.</li></ul></div><div><h3>Fun Facts</h3><ul><li>There used to be a special room under the theater where vaudeville acts housed their animals.</li><li>The Theater's Mighty Wurlitzer Pipe Organ was restored, thanks to the Valley of the Sun Chapter of the American Theatre Organ Society.</li><li>Theater seats are restored originals, and still bear the initials 'N' and 'R' for the Orpheum's builders, Harry Nace and J. E. Rickards.</li><li>The Orpheum Theater, the&nbsp;<a rel="nofollow" href="http://www.discoverphoenixarizona.com/herberger-theater.html">Herberger Theater Center</a>&nbsp;and&nbsp;<a rel="nofollow" href="http://www.discoverphoenixarizona.com/symphony-hall.html">Symphony Hall</a>&nbsp;collectively make up Phoenix's downtown theater district.</li></ul></div><div>You can enjoy concerts, plays, operas, dance productions, comedy shows and more at the Orpheum, and can even rent the theater for your own personal or business event.&nbsp;</div><div><br></div>

Built in 1929 as a premier vaudeville house, the Orpheum was the last major construction project in Phoenix before the onset of the Great Depression. It was converted to a movie theater over time, and by the late 1960s, much of the fine interior work had fallen into disrepair, while some its intricate murals had been painted over, either to hide the decline or to Black out the murals in order to focus attention on the silver screen. By the 1980s the theater was abandoned, but a campaign by the Junior League raised awareness of the need to preserve the historic theater. Today, it has been completely renovated and is one of the finest entertainment venues in the city.

Orpheum Theatre Phoenix

<div>After World War II, the population began to grow significantly&nbsp;in the city and county. The courthouse building eventually became too small; the city and county governments both needed their own buildings to accommodate this growth. The new structures were built in the 1960s but the State Supreme Court is still located in the building, as is the Maricopa County Justice Museum, which opened in 2012.&nbsp;</div>

This grand building was constructed in 1929 to house City Hall and the Maricopa County Courthouse. It is actually two building conjoined into one structure. Its architecture is an eclectic blend of Mission Revival, Spanish Colonial, and Art Deco styles. The building is also significant in the development of both the city and county in late 1920 and 1930s. It represents the tremendous economic growth that occurred in the city and country during this period. The building is also significant for being the site of the Miranda vs. Arizona court case, which resulted in the conviction of Ernesto Miranda for the rape of a woman in 1963. After learning that he did not have to give a written and signed confession, he recanted his story and appealed the decision with the assistance of the ACLU. In 1966, the Supreme Court overturned the decision, arguing that Miranda's rights were not explicitly stated to him after his arrest. Given this significant event, the building's architecture and the role it played in the city's development, the building was added to the National Register of Historic Places 1989. 


Maricopa County Courthouse

The building is made from brown brick with elaborate marble ornamentation on the top two floors was a popular building style of the time designed by the El Paso architectural firm Trost &amp; Trost. The building served several different businesses throughout the years including the Luhr’s Insurance Agency, The Arizona Club and even a Private Men’s Club.&nbsp;

The historic Luhrs Building located just south of the CityScape was once the tallest structure in the city of Phoenix. Phoenix City Council member (1881-85) and local businessman, George H.N. Luhrs bought the land in 1884 and this ten-story building was completed in 1924, five years prior to the Luhrs Tower which is located just west of this brick structure. The building was renovated in 2009. 

Luhrs Building

For many years the building was used as office and document storage space. In 2015, however, this model for the building began to change to meet the demands of tech companies and startups, who wanted wide open and customizable office spaces. Renovations were completed in 2016.&nbsp;

Those who have seen Alfred Hitchcock's famous movie, Psycho, may recognize this building from the opening scene. The Heard Building was constructed in 1920 by landowner and real estate developer, John Heard, who also owned the Arizona Republican (now Arizona Republic) newspaper from 1912-1929. The building was the first multi-story structure in the city (and the first high rise) was also unique in that it was constructed entirely out of poured concrete. This was in response to a fire that destroyed a hotel in 1910. The building was also home to the Snell & Wilmer LLP law firm, Greater Arizona Savings and Loan, and the Arizona Gazette. Today, the Heard Building is used for office space for startups and tech companies. It was listed on the National Register of Historic Places in 1985.  

Heard Building

Where the hotel now stands was once the location of Phoenix's first school, a four-room adobe structure built in 1873. This was expanded over the next decades but by 1916 was too small and in fact was condemned. By this time Phoenix was growing rapidly. In 1911 the Theodore Roosevelt Dam was built, affording farmers in&nbsp;the region greater access to water. As a result, the economy benefited substantially, including Phoenix. In time, the city became a thriving agricultural, trade, and commercial hub. This attracted tourists (cars were becoming more prevalent during this period) and so accommodations for them were needed.&nbsp;This is what prompted the hotel's construction.&nbsp;

Hotel San Carlos is one of the more important landmarks in Phoenix. It was built in 1928 and designed by Los Angeles architect George Whitecross Ritchie in the Italian Renaissance Revival style. The hotel was the first truly modern building in the Southwest: it was the first high-rise in the region with air conditioning an elevator (hand operated), and had a steam heat radiator system (this is still operating today). It also featured Italian tapestries, a card room, dance room, an outdoor sun room, and chilled ice water taps in every room (these still exist though are no longer operating). The interior, particularly in the lobby, has largely retained its original woodwork and other decorative elements such as textured concrete decorations. Numerous celebrities, politicians, and other notables have stayed here including Marilyn Monroe and Cary Grant. The hotel was added to the National Register of Historic Places in 1983. 

Hotel San Carlos

Constructed in 1928, by rancher, publisher, and real estate investor&nbsp;Dwight B. Heard this historic&nbsp;structure originally included eight floors and served as the headquarters of Heard's Security&nbsp;Improvement Company. This was the tallest building in Arizona at the time of its completion and thirty years later the ninth floor was added and served as the penthouse&nbsp;apartment of Walter Bimson, president of Valley National Bank.&nbsp;<br><br>Dwight Bancroft Heard may be best known today as the founder of the Arizona Republic. He was one of the largest landowners in Arizona and was the president of the Arizona&nbsp;Cotton Association.&nbsp;<br><br><br>

This 9-story Second Renaissance Revival style building was built in 1928. The plaque, located on the Central Avenue side of the building, gives a brief history of the building which has been placed on the National Register of Historic Places and the Phoenix Historic Property Register. Designed in the Second Renaissance Revival style, the Security Building was originally the headquarters of produce growers and law firms. This building was purchased by Maricopa County in 2001 and historical renovations began in 2005.


Historical Marker: Security Building

In addition to the "Dance" sculpture outside of the theater, you may also want to visit the theater's art gallery.&nbsp;The <b>Art Gallery</b> is open Monday-Friday, 10am-5pm (enter through the Box Office), during performances, and by appointment. A portion of the proceeds from each piece sold benefits the Herberger Theater’s outreach programs. For information or to purchase artwork, contact Laurene Austin at&nbsp;<a target="_blank" rel="nofollow">(602) 254-7399</a>&nbsp;x105 or&nbsp;<a target="_blank" rel="nofollow">email</a>. 30% of each piece purchased is tax-deductible with proceeds benefiting the Herberger Theater’s youth outreach programs.<br><br>The Herberger Theater also operates the&nbsp;<b>Arizona Center Gallery</b>&nbsp;located at&nbsp;455 N. Third Street, Suite 1200. Curators are Connie and A O Tucker. The gallery features the work of Arizona artists, age 18 and older. (Note: Arizona Center gallery hours vary.)<br><br>Each season, the Herberger Theater seeks Arizona artists to apply to exhibit their work in its theater and Arizona Center galleries. In both galleries, a&nbsp;portion of the proceeds from each piece sold benefits the Herberger Theater’s youth outreach programs. 30% of each piece purchased is tax-deductible with no sales tax.<br>

John Waddell's "Dance" (1974) comprises several nude figurative bronze sculptures depicted in a variety of dance poses. One piece features a man lifting a woman with outstretched arms towards the sky, and another a woman playing the flute. The figures dot a plaza in front of the Herberger Theater Center, where resident companies include the modern dance company Center Dance Ensemble. (1)

Public Art @ Herberger Theater Center

Located directly adjacent to the entrance of St. Mary's Basilica, this historical marker commemorates Father Edouard Gerard, the first Catholic priest ordained in Arizona. He served as pastor of the Church of the Assumption between 1877-1885 and founded the first Catholic church in 1881. He eventually became Vicar General of the Vicariate Apostolic and Diocese of Tucson. Pope Pius XI named Gerard Domestic Prelate for his years of service. Gerard passed away on Christmas day, 1936 and is interred at Holy Hope Cemetery here in Tucson.





Historical Marker: Father Edouard Gerard

Catholic liturgy was practiced in a private residence from 1872 until the first church was built in 1881. That church as a simple single-story adobe structure. It proved to be too small by 1902 and so it was clearly time for a bigger building. The basilica is the state's only one. In 1987, Pope John Paul II visited the basilica. A statue of him commemorating his visit stands just outside the building in the adjacent park.&nbsp;

St. Mary's Basilica is home to the oldest Catholic parish in Phoenix. Construction began on this site in 1880 and is Phoenix's second oldest Christian congregation; the first one being the First Presbyterian Church, founded in 1879. The current church building, which was declared a basilica by Pope John Paul II in 1985, was built in two stages. The first occurred between 1902-1903 when the basement was built. This area served as the church until the rest of the building was constructed from 1913-1914. It was designed with a Moorish Revival style exterior (with some Romanesque features) and a Romanesque style interior. The basilica features the largest number of stained glass windows in the state and an organ containing 1,337 pipes that was installed in 1921. The basilica was placed on the National Register of Historic Places in 1978. The schedule of Masses and Gift Shop hours are listed below.

St. Mary's Basilica

<div><div>The art projects are funded through the City's Public Art Program. The program, established in 1986, has involved artists in the design of every kind of city building and space, ranging from streetscapes, freeway overpasses and pedestrian bridges, to canal trails, parks and libraries. The Phoenix Public Art Program is managed by the Phoenix Office of Arts and Culture and has commissioned more than 120 public art projects.<br></div><b><br>Artist Selection Process:</b></div><p>A "call to artists" process was issued by the Phoenix Office of Arts and Culture. A 10-member public art&nbsp;panel for the Phoenix Convention Center expansion project was assembled, including local artists and representatives from the Phoenix Arts and Culture Commission, the Phoenix Convention Center, and local cultural organizations.</p><p><b>Expansion Artists and Artwork:</b></p><p>As part of the Phoenix Convention Center expansion in the early 2000s, 10 artists were selected to create pieces for the West and North Buildings. The artwork was installed in both phases of construction, with a majority of pieces being installed in Phase Two.(2008) (Phase One opened in 2006.)&nbsp;The following pieces were created for this new Phoenix Convention Center expansion.&nbsp;</p><p><b><i>WEST BUILDING</i></b>:</p><p>“<b>Million Colors</b>,”&nbsp;Tony Oursler&nbsp;– Five video installations projected directly onto the architectural surfaces of the arcade space between the West Building Atrium and Monroe Street. The videos feature local theatre actors reciting poetic vignettes about Arizona.&nbsp;</p><p></p><div><p>"<b>Art is Guaranty of Sanity</b>," Louise Bourgeois -&nbsp;A monumental, 90-foot mirror sculpture, located in the West Building atrium. The mirror face is highly polished steel, cut into shapes derived from a drawing of a spider web – a recurring theme in much of the artist’s work. Visitors will see themselves and the atrium space dynamically reflected in the mirror’s surface. The mirror also reflects one of Bourgeois’s hallmark phrases, which also serves as the title for the piece: “Art is Guaranty of Sanity.” The sculpture was engineered and fabricated by Caid Industries, in Tucson.</p><p>The back of the mirror is scalloped ridges of polished metal. The entire mirror is supported by a large steel stem that rises from the lower level food court of the convention center.&nbsp;<br>Ms. Bourgeois, widely recognized as one of the world's foremost living sculptors, explored several of her lifelong themes in creating the signature sculpture for the Phoenix Convention Center. The spider-web pattern on the face of the mirror gives viewers constantly changing views of themselves and the atrium.<br><br>Bourgeois was awarded the National Medal of the Arts, the nation’s highest honor for visual arts, by President Clinton in 1997. Bourgeois was born in France in 1911 and moved in 1938 to New York. She passed away in May, 2010. (4)<br><br></p><p><b><i>NORTH BUILDING:</i></b></p><p>“<b>Night Blooming Garden</b>,”&nbsp;Beliz Brother&nbsp;– One hundred forty-four blue and green LED runway&nbsp;lights arranged in arcs along the sidewalks around the Phoenix Convention Center campus. The lights are designed to replicate a night-blooming cereus plant of the Sonoran Desert and gently influence pedestrian movement surrounding the Convention Center facilities.&nbsp;</p><p>“<b>Social Invertebrates</b>”,&nbsp;Tom Otterness&nbsp;– Three large, whimsical bronze sculptures of desert creatures, enlarged to human scale. The creatures include a millipede with a hat and shoes; a walking stick in high heels, and a scorpion holding two small men in top hats tugging at a bag of money. Accompanying sculptural elements of people, scaled down to Lilliputian dimensions, interact with the creatures. The sculptures are set in a unique water-harvesting garden at the public plaza located near the southeast entrance of the North Building.&nbsp;</p><p>“<b>Southern Exposure</b>,”&nbsp;Jamex and Einar de la Torre&nbsp;– Two large-scale sentry figures, inspired by the columnnar figures at Tula, Mexico. They are constructed of metal, plate glass, blown glass and resin. The stacked glass boxes that make up with the figures contain blown glass objects, found objects and cultural artifacts reflecting the ancient and contemporary cultures of Arizona and the Southwest.&nbsp;</p><p>“<b>Halo</b>,”&nbsp;William Bennie and Kim Cridler&nbsp;– A wreath-like metal sculpture suspended over the Monroe Street ballroom entry. The sculpture employs a conical ring of interwoven agave leaves, framed and supported by a grid-like structure. The form references the multiple meanings of a wreath as denoting good luck; transformation through regeneration, like the Phoenix itself; and the ring of continuity, life, and cyclic time.&nbsp;</p><p>“<b>Arizona Handshake</b>,”&nbsp;Stephen Farley&nbsp;– Installation of ten 3’ x 10’ photographic tile panels depicting diverse individuals shaking hands as a symbol of welcome, economic prosperity, congratulations, assistance and community.&nbsp;</p><p>“<b>A Moment at the Narrows</b>,”&nbsp;Troy Moody&nbsp;– Water and landscape-inspired terrazzo flooring designs featured at two locations along the corridor inside the Washington Street side of the North Building. The designs are inspired by the topography of Arizona and the fragmented profiles of the Grand Canyon cliff face, which follow the irregular contours of the stone up to the vast blue sky.&nbsp;</p><p>“<b>Arizona Beach</b>,”&nbsp;Hirotsune Tashima&nbsp;– A series of humorous stoneware ceramic sculptures, intended to point to the power of growth and to encourage people to live fully. Located in the food court area inside the North Building, the playful group of sculptures mixes native flora and fauna and contemporary cultural references with the idea of a desert “beach.”&nbsp;</p><p>“<b>The Earth Dreaming</b>,”&nbsp;Isaiah Zagar&nbsp;– A colorful mosaic of tile murals at the Third Street and Monroe Street entrance which creates Phoenix and Arizona-specific imagery within the mural. (1)</p><p><br></p></div>

Artwork has been a critical component of the Phoenix Convention Center since it originally opened in 1972. Building upon this civic commitment to the arts, the City, through the Phoenix Office of Arts and Culture Public Art Program, commissioned new artworks by local, regional and national artists to be incorporated into the expanded Phoenix Convention Center. These works offer a variety of perspectives on life in Phoenix, the United States, and the world in the 21st century, and join several other pieces in the Convention Center’s extensive collection. (1)

NOTE: The Visitor Information Center, is located in the Phoenix Convention Center & Venues West Building.

Public Art @ Phoenix Convention Center

The Burgess Carriage House was built circa 1881 and is the only structure remaining from the Francis Marion Mognett Ranch. It is also the only building moved (in the 1970s) to block 14 of Heritage Square Park. It is now the ticket office, gift shop, and information center for the historic Rosson House, which has its own Clio entry and is listed on the National Register of Historic Places. 

The Burgess Carriage House (in Historic Heritage Square & Science Park)

Sisters Anna and Marguerite Haustgen built this house in 1923 as an investment property. They lived in what is now known as the Stevens-Haustgen House, which is also located here at Heritage Square Park. Its features, such as the sleeping porches (which were opened at night to let cool air in), make it the most typical Arizonan structure at the park. Today, the building houses the City of Phoenix Parks and Recreation Department and the Heritage Square Foundation.

The Duplex House (in Historic Heritage Square & Science Park)

This historic bungalow was constructed in 1901 by Constance Stevens, a widow and employee in a local retail business called "New York Store." The house is representative of an architectural trend that was moving westward at the turn of the century. The bungalow style, which had emerged in the Midwest, started to replace the sun-dried adobe brick houses that were commonplace in the West. The house is also unique in that features a unique roof system. The roof is 16 inches higher than the attic level to allow for better air circulation.

The Stevens House (in Historic Heritage Square & Science Park)

<div><div>Luckily, the Baird Machine Shop was not demolished as many other original buildings had been by the 1970s and 1980s. Developer Phil Gordon,&nbsp;who would later become majoy, first proposed the idea of a brewpub in the building in the late 1980s as part of a plan to revitalize downtown (Heritage Park opened in 1980). He envisioned a world-class restaurant that would attract people from all over the country. The plan fell through though, mainly because of the lack of parking. But ten years later, chef Chris Bianco opened the pizzeria. In 1998, a New York critic declared the pizza made here the best in the country.&nbsp; &nbsp;<br></div></div><br>

Listed on the National Register of Historic Places, the Baird Machine Shop was constructed in 1929. It is an excellent example of commercial architecture from the early 20th century. Today, the building is now the home of Pizzeria Bianco, a popular pizza restaurant that features a wood-burning stove. 

The Baird Machine Shop (in Historic Heritage Square & Science Park)

Constructed in 1901, the Stevens-Haustgen House bungalow features wide porches and low rooflines. This style was typical of homes built in California at the turn of the century. It was built by Constance Stevens, who lived in the nearby Stevens House, to be used as a rental property. In 1911 a man named Edward Haustgen purchased the house and rented it out to his sisters Anna and Marguerite from 1937-1952. Today, the house is the location of the Heritage Gallery which features changing exhibits. Visitors can tour the house as part of the Rosson House Museum tour.

The Stevens-Haustgen House (in Historic Heritage Square & Science Park)

Cattleman and flour miller Leon Bouvier built this house in 1899. It's a fine example of a Midwestern bungalow, a style which was gaining popularity in Phoenix at the turn of the century. The house was also later used as a rental property by a woman named Eliza Teeter, who bought it from Bouvier in 1911. She rented it until 1919 when she moved in. The house today is home to the award-winning restaurant Nabuo at Teeter House, which is an Asian-style teahouse and izakaya (a type of Asian gastropub).

The Bouvier-Teeter House (in Historic Heritage Square & Science Park)

Built in 1899 as a detached carriage house for the Bouvier-Teeter House, this historic structure is now the location of Royal Coffee Bar & Roasting Company. It is a good example of what a typical carriage house looked like back then, with a space to store animals, a vehicle, and supplies, and a loft above these areas.

The Teeter Carriage House (in Historic Heritage Square & Science Park)

The Silva House was built in 1900 by Phoenix liquor dealer A.F.C. Kirchoff, who rented it out to make some extra income. The architecture is interesting in that it combines the bungalow style with neoclassical revival elements. In 1906, he sold it to Glendale rancher and warehouse owner Alejandro Silva, who leased it for the next 20 years. The family owned the house until 1977 when the city acquired it. During the following decades it became a museum and several restaurants, including the current British-themed one, The Rose and Crown, which opened in 2008. 

The Silva House (in Historic Heritage Square & Science Park)

<div>Dr. Roland Rosson came to Phoenix in 1879 where he established himself as a general physician and surgeon.&nbsp;In addition to his career as a physician, Rosson was also involved in politics.&nbsp;</div><div><br></div><div>Roland Rosson married Flora B. Murray in Phoenix on August 11, 1880.&nbsp;In May of 1882, the Rossons purchased Block 14 (now Heritage Square) in Phoenix.&nbsp;In September of 1894, several articles appeared in local papers requesting bids for a house designed by architect A.P. Petit for R.L. Rosson at the corner of Monroe and 6th Streets.&nbsp;</div><div><p>In February of 1895, an article in the Arizona Republican discussing the northeastern part of Phoenix notes that “The most expensive homes in the city – the Churchill, the Rosson, the Jacobs, the Murray and the Hine residences are in the immediate locality.” March 16th, 1895 is the first appearance of an ad for Dr. Rosson’s office and residence listing the location as the corner of Monroe and Sixth streets.</p><p>The Rosson House was built with modern accommodations such as electric lights, hot and cold running water, an indoor upstairs bathroom, and a telephone. Other contemporary Victorian mansions on Monroe were similarly equipped - by 1892, Phoenix boasted electrical plants, a domestic water system, a gas system, and two competing telephone companies. The Phoenix street-car line ran down Monroe before turning north on Seventh Street, so the Rossons and other Monroe Street residents had only to walk out to board it.</p></div><div>In June of 1897, the Rossons sold their house and the north half of Block 14. The family moved to Los Angeles, California by July 27th of 1897. The house changed hands several times and was purchased by&nbsp;the Gammel family on August 22, 1914.&nbsp;The Gammel family owned and lived in the Rosson House longer than any other family.</div><div><p>The Gammel family lived in the Rosson House until 1948 and ran a rooming/boarding house. To make the house better for renters, the Gammels made drastic changes to the house including walling in porches, subdividing floors and adding multiple kitchens and bathrooms. After 1948, the Rosson House changed hands multiple times and continued to operate as a rooming house, eventually becoming a "flop house" and falling into disrepair until the City of Phoenix purchased the Rosson House and the remainder of Block 14 in 1974.</p></div>

Rosson House is a 2,800 square foot Eastlake Victorian style home, built in 1895 by Dr. and Mrs. Roland Rosson. A classic example of the late Victorian style, it is fully restored to its original grandeur. Experience what life was like for residents of Phoenix in territorial Arizona. Docent-guided tours feature all living areas of the house and highlight the stories, people and places that influenced the property and surroundings. The Rosson House was restored in the 1970s through a community effort involving the City of Phoenix, dozens of local institutions and hundreds of volunteers. 

Phoenix Walking Tour- Historic Downtown and Heritage Square

New Windsor Hotel

Introduction

Images

Backstory and Context

Sources

Additional Information