Sightseeing in Phoenix, Arizona



I love to sightsee. I'm always on a window seat of an airplane, when I take the shuttle I kinda hope that they'll have to do a side-trip so I can do more sightseeing. As a driver, I was never very good at paying attention to what really matters to drivers, such as moving quickly when the left arrow turns green. By the way, if you're worried that you're gonna be behind me, don't, I've stopped driving. I lost interest in it years ago and I finally sold my car and am dedicating myself to sightseeing.

I like looking at stuff. I started drawing when I was a little kid, and when I discovered Andrew Wyeth in my teens, I really got into just looking at things, especially old buildings. I love the texture of old bricks, I love looking at an old crumbling foundation and pondering the building that had been there. For a long time I carried a sketchbook with me, just in case anyone would walk up to me and ask what I was looking at. In a long life, no one has asked, so I've learned to relax a bit about my looking at stuff.

Of course, the thing I've heard all my life is "there's nothing to look at!", and hearing that makes me sad, because I know that for most people, what I'm seeing, and feeling, is invisible.

I admit to things that I try to cover up in my what I'm doing. If someone asks me what I'm doing, I'm working on my fitness, or trying to save some money by riding the Light Rail. This makes sense to most people, and it's a technique that I learned from John Steinbeck's character Doc from the book "Cannery Row". Doc was the man I wanted to grow up to be. No, not the character from the movie, the character from the book, they were very different. He was a nerdy guy who was interested in looking at stuff, from the tiniest sea life in the tide pools to the entire United States. In the book he decided to walk across the country just to see it. Just to see it. I can understand that, but most people couldn't. They were distrustful of him until he told them that he was doing it to win a bet. Then they understood, and were OK with him.

So I'm doing this to win a bet, or some other reason that most people can understand. Maybe I'm doing this to get rich, or famous. But I do it for the same reason that I like to sightsee. I like to explore. When I can, I do it in real life. When it's raining, I do it in cyberspace, luckily I live in Phoenix, where the weather is almost always beautiful. There's so much to see!

Image at the top of this post. Looking northwest at the Agua Fria River from Lower Buckeye Road. You're looking toward the White Tank Mountains.


By the way, if you're not inclined to just stumble around, here's a list that can get you started:

Individual properties designated with Historic Preservation in the city of Phoenix. The month and year shown is when that particular property was listed on the Phoenix Historic Property Register.

Adams School / Grace Court School
 800 W. Adams St.
 April 1987; boundary adjustment May 2006 (Construction Date: 1911)
Aldridge (Aubrey & Winstona) House
 1326 E. Jefferson St. 
June 2005 (Construction Date: 1950)
American Legion Post 41 
715 S. Second Ave.
 November 2007 (Construction Date: 1948)
Anchor Manufacturing Company
 525 S. Central Ave.
 June 2005 (Construction Date: 1928)
Anderson (Helen) House 
149 W. McDowell Road 
September 1986 (Construction Date: circa 1920)
Arizona Citrus Growers Association Warehouse
 601 E. Jackson St.
 April 1987 (Construction Date: 1920)
Arizona Museum
 Located within University Park between 10th and 12th avenues, Van Buren and Polk streets
April 1989 (Construction Date: 1927)
Arrow Van & Storage Warehouse/Chambers Transer & Storage Company Warehouse Annex 
323 W. Jackson St. 
October 2001 (Construction Date: circa 1930)
Arvizu’s El Fresnal Grocery Store 
310 E. Buchanan St. 
July 2000 (Construction Date: 1900)
Asbury-Salmon House 
7801 N. Central Ave.
 March 2003 (Construction Date: 1934-1935)
Barbara Jean Apartments 
212-214 E. Portland St.
 September 2004 (Construction Date: circa 1927)
Bayless (J.B.) Store # 7 
825 N. Seventh St.
 November 1998 (Construction Date: 1928)
Betania Presbyterian Church 
305 W. Pima St.
October 2007 (Construction Date: circa 1951)
Blake, Moffitt and Towne Janitorial and Paper Supply Company Warehouse
 101 E. Buchanan St.
 July 2000 (Construction Date: 1927)
Bobby Brown Cafe 1714-1718 W. Van Buren St. 
March 2005 (Construction Date: circa 1930)
Bohn (Louis) House 
8001 N. Seventh St. March 2003 (Construction Date: circa 1928)
Boone (Daniel & Clara) House
 1720 W. Elm St.
 November 2005 (Construction Date: 1940)
Bragg's Pies, Inc.
 1301 Grand Ave.
 November 2005 (Construction Date: 1946)
Brockway (Dr. George M.) House 
506 E. Portland St. 
February 2005 (Construction Date: circa 1909)
Bungalow Farm Residence 
6413 S. 26th St.
 January 1993 (Construction Date: 1935)
Campbell (Rev. Henry M.) House 
826 N. Third Ave. 
September 1986 (Construction Date: circa 1910)
Carnegie Public Library and Park
 1101 W. Washington St. 
April 1989; landmark designation March 2004 (Construction Date: 1907)
Cartwright School 
5833 W. Thomas Road. 
June 2007; (Construction Date: 1924)
Carver (George Washington) High School
 415 E. Grant St. 
May 1992 (Construction Date: 1926)
Cavness (William E.) House 
606 N. Fourth Ave. 
November 2004 (Construction Date: 1914)
Central Arizona Light & Power Company Warehouse 
501 S. Third Ave.
 July 2000 (Construction Date: 1928-1929)
Chambers Transfer & Storage Company Central Warehouse
 15-39 E. Jackson St.
 May 1990 (Construction Date: 1925)
Chambers Transfer & Storage Company Warehouse 
309 S. Fourth Ave. 
April 1987 (Construction Date: 1923)
Cisney (George) House 
916 E. McKinley St.
 March 1994 (Construction Date: 1897)
Cobb Bros. Market Warehouse 
430 S. Second Ave. 
July 2000 (Construction Date: circa 1932)
Coe (H.M.) House 
365 N. Fourth Ave.
 October 2002 (Construction Date: 1895)
Concrete Block Bungalow 
606 N. Ninth St. 
February 2005 (Construction Date: circa 1908)
Concrete Block Neoclassical House 
614 N. Fourth Ave. 
September 1986 (Construction Date: circa 1906)
Concrete Block Neoclassical House
 640 N. Sixth Ave.
 September 1986 (Construction Date: 1911)
Converse (Ralph) House
 6617 N. Central Ave.
 March 2003 (Construction Date: 1935)
Conway (Col. Edward Power) House
 7625 N. 10th St.
May 2003 (Construction Date: 1928-1929)
Corpstein Duplex
 417 W. Roosevelt St. 
September 1986 (Construction Date: circa 1920)
Craftsman Bungalow
 1241 E. Roosevelt St.
J une 2006 (Construction Date: 1910)
Cronin (C.P.) House
 2029 W. Jefferson St. 
October 2002 (Construction Date: 1893)
Del Monte Market
 2659 W. Dobbins Road
. August 1992; boundary expansion April 2004 (Construction Date: 1908)
DeMund (Herman P.) House
 649 N. Second Ave.
September 1986 (Construction Date: circa 1910)
DeMund (Lester) House
 363 E. Monte Vista Road. 
August 1992 (Construction Date: 1930)
Dougherty-Peterson House
 2141 W. Washington St. 
March 1994 (Construction Date: 1899)
Douglas (Lewis) House
 815 E. Orangewood Ave.
 May 1990 (Construction Date: 1923)
Dunbar (Paul Laurence) School 
701 S. Ninth Ave./707 W. Grant St. 
March 2005 (Construction Date: 1925)
Dunlap (Charles H.) House 
650 N. First Ave. 
September 1986 (Construction Date: circa 1914)
Duppa-Montgomery Adobe
 715 S. Second Ave./116 W. Sherman St.
 November 2005 (Construction Date: circa 1895)
Eastlake Park 
Bounded by 15th, 16th, Jefferson and Jackson streets
 June 2005 (Period of Significance: 1890-1949)
El Encanto Apartment Building 
2214 N. Central Ave.
 December 1990 (Construction Date: 1939)
El Portal Restaurant
 701 S. Second Ave./117 W. Grant St.
 November 2007 (Construction Date: 1947)
El Zaribah Shrine Auditorium 
1502 W. Washington St.
 June 1989 (Construction Date: 1921)
Ellis-Shackelford House
 1242 N. Central Ave.
 September 1986 (Construction Date: 1917)
Emerson (Louis) House 
623 N. Fourth St.
May 1990 (Construction Date: 1902)
England (A.E.) Motors, Inc.
 424 N. Central Ave.
 May 2006 (Construction Date: 1926)
England-Lawrence House
 6234 N. Central Ave. 
March 2003 (Construction Date: 1929)
Evans (Dr. John M.) House 
1100 W. Washington St.
 December 1986 (Construction Date: 1893)
Faith Lutheran Church 
801 E. Camelback Road. 
December 1997 (Construction Date: 1946-1955)
Farish (William A.) House 
816 N. Third St.
 October 2002 (Construction Date: circa 1900)
Fennemore (Hary M.) House 
501 E. Moreland St. 
September 2004 (Construction Date: circa 1912)
First Baptist Church
 302 W. Monroe St. 
April 1995 (Construction Date: 1929)
First Presbyterian Church
 402 W. Monroe St.
 November 1997 (Construction Date: 1927)
Franklin School 
1625 W. McDowell Road/1414 N. 16th Dr. 
December 2003 (Construction Date: 1926-1927)
Fry Building 
146 E. Washington St.
 April 1987 (Construction Date: 1885)
Gas Works
 401 S. Second Ave.
 July 2000 (Construction Date: circa 1910)
Gates (Neil H.) House
 4602 N. Elsie Ave.
 October 1990 (Construction Date: 1929)
General Electric Supply Warehouse 
435-441 W. Madison St.
 July 2000 (Construction Date: 1930)
George (Mrs. Leonard) House
 6611 N. Central Ave.
 March 2003 (Construction Date: 1929)
Gerardo’s Building
 421 S. Third St.
July 2000 (Construction Date: 1928)

Gibbes (Carter W.) House
 2233 N. Alvarado Road
. April 1987 (Construction Date: 1930)
Good Shepherd Home for Girls
 Near the northeast corner of Northern and 19th avenues
. November 1988 (Construction Date: 1942)
Grace Lutheran Church 
1124 N. Third St.
November 1997 (Construction Date: 1928)
Grant Park
 714 S. Second Ave./701 S. Third Ave. 
November 2007 (Construction Date: 1934)
Greystone Apartments
 645 and 649 N. Fourth Ave.
 September 1986 (Construction Date: circa 1930)
Grier (William & Mary) House
 1942 W. Adams St.
 November 2007 (Construction Date: circa 1901)
Grunow (Lois) Memorial Clinic
 926 E. McDowell Road. 
April 1987 (Construction Date: 1931)
Halm-Howard House
 6850 N. Central Ave.
November 2005 (Construction Date: 1906-1907)
Hanny's 
40 N. First St.
 June 2005 (Construction Date: 1947)
Harmon Park
 1425 S. Fifth Ave.
 October 2007 (Construction Date: 1927)
Heard Museum
 2301 N. Central Ave./22 E. Monte Vista Roa. August 1992 (Construction Date: 1929)
Heard Ranch Grain Silos
 In the vicinity of 30th Street and Vineyard Road
March 1993 (Construction Date: 1930)
Hedgpeth Hills Petroglyph Site
 Approximately ¼ mile north of the intersection of 43rd Avenue and Beardsley Road. 
May 1990 (Period of Significance: AD 700-1050)
Hidden (George) House
 763 E. Moreland St. 
March 1994 (Construction Date: 1896)
Hotel San Carlos
 202 N. Central Ave. 
June 1987 (Construction Date: 1928)
Hotel Westward Ho
 618 N. Central Ave. September 1986 (Construction Date: 1928)
Humbert (William K.) House 
2238 N. Alvarado Road
. April 1987 (Construction Date: 1932)
Immaculate Heart of Mary Church
 909 E. Washington St.
 November 1997 (Construction Date: 1928)
Jacobs (Judge Fred C.) House
 6224 N. Central Ave. 
March 2003 (Construction Date: circa 1928)
Jefferson Hotel
 101 S. Central Ave.
 June 2005 (Construction Date: 1915)
Jones (Harry A.) House
 7215 N. Central Ave.
 November 2005 (Construction Date: circa 1935)
Jones (W.W.) House
 1008 E. Buckeye Road. 
March 1994 (Construction Date: 1879)
Kelly (J.F.) House 44 E. Palm Lane
. August 1992 (Construction Date: 1922)
Kenilworth School
 1210 N. Fifth Ave.
 September 1986 (Construction Date: 1918-1920)
King's Rest Hotel Motor Court 
801 S. 17th Ave.
 October 1990 (Construction Date: 1937)
Knights of Pythias Building
 829 N. First Ave.
 September 1986 (Construction Date: 1928)
Knipe (Leighton G.) House 
1025 N. Second St. 
September 2004 (Construction Date: circa 1909)
Koontz (Kinter K.) House 
7620 N. Seventh St.
 March 2003 (Construction Date: 1929)
Lightning Z Ranch House
 8702 N. Seventh Ave.
 March 1994 (Construction Date: 1904-1908)
Lugo (Luis) Bakery
 415 (417) W. Sherman St./801 S. Fifth Ave.
 November 2007 (Construction Date: 1917)
Luhrs Building 
11 W. Jefferson St. 
January 1990 (Construction Date: 1924)
Luhrs Tower 45 W. Jefferson St.
 January 1990 (Construction Date: 1929)
Maricopa County Courthouse / Phoenix City Hall
125 W. Washington St./17 S. Second Ave. 
April 1989; landmark designation March 2004 (Construction Date: 1928-1929)
Masonic Temple 
345 W. Monroe St. 
October 1996 (Construction Date: 1926)
McClintock (Col. James H.) House 
323 E. Willetta St.
 October 1990 (Construction Date: 1911)
McKinley School 
512 E. Pierce St. 
September 2004 (Construction Date: circa 1919)
Merryman Funeral Home 
817 N. First St. 
November 2005 (Construction Date: 1937)
Monroe School
 215 N. Seventh St.
 May 1987; landmark designation and boundary expansion March 2004 (Construction Date: 1914)
Monterey Ranch Residence 
40 E. Carter Road
. July 1993 (Construction Date: 1927)
Montgomery Homestead 
1721 S. Seventh Ave.
March 1994 (Construction Date: circa 1880)
Morgan (D.B.) House 
8030 N. Central Ave. 
November 2005 (Construction Date: 1927)
Morse-Kelley House 
2141 W. Madison St. October 2002 (Construction Date: circa 1900)
Murphy (William J.) House 
7514 N. Central Ave. / 10 W. Orangewood Ave.
March 1994 (Construction Date: 1895)
Mystery Castle 
800 E. Mineral Road
. May 1990 (Construction Date: 1930-1945)
Neighborhood House
 6029 S. Seventh St. 
May 1990 (Construction Date: 1937)
Nevitt (Guy P.) House 
507 E. Moreland St. 
September 2004 (Construction Date: circa 1919)
Norton (Dr. James C.) House
 2700 N. 15th Ave.
 April 1989 (Construction Date: 1912-1913)
Norton (W.R.) House
 2222 W. Washington St. 
November 2002 (Construction Date: 1895)
Olney-Ellinwood House 
6810 N. Central Ave. 
March 2003 (Construction Date: circa 1912)
Ong Yut Geong Wholesale Market WareHouse
 502 S. Second St.
July 2000 (Construction Date: 1930)
Ong's (Jim) Market 
1110 E. Washington St.
 May 1990 (Construction Date: 1928)
Orpheum Theatre 
209 W. Adams St.
 April 1987; landmark designation March 2004 (Construction Date: 1929)
Osborn (William) House
 1266 W. Pierce St. January 1989 (Construction Date: 1890)
Palmer (E. Payne) House 
6012 N. Central Ave. 
June 1999 (Construction Date: 1929)
Patterson (William H.) Elks Lodge #477
1007 S. Seventh Ave.
June 2005 (Construction Date: 1946)
Peirce (Harry E.) House
 632 N. Third Ave.
 September 1986 (Construction Date: circa 1910)
Pemberton (Sarah H.) House 
1121 N. Second St. 
September 2004 (Construction Date: circa 1920)
Phillips (Lucy) Memorial C.M.E. Church
 1415 E. Adams St.
 June 2005 (Construction Date: 1947)
Phoenix Second Ward L.D.S. Church 
1120 N. Third Ave. / 302 W. Latham St.
 September 1986 (Construction Date: 1929-1932)
Phoenix Elementary School District No. 1 Administration Building 
331 N. First Ave.
October 1996 (Construction Date: 1917)
Phoenix Housing Authority 
1301 S. Third Ave.
October 2007 (Construction Date: 1941)
Phoenix Seed & Feed Company Warehouse 
411 S. Second St. 
March 2004 (Construction Date: circa 1905)
Phoenix Union Station
 401 W. Harrison St.
 December 1986 (Construction Date: 1923)
Pierce (N. Clyde) House
 4505 E. Osborn Road. 
May 1990 (Construction Date: 1927)
Pieri-Elliot House
 767 E. Moreland St.
 June 1997 (Construction Date: 1920-1922)
Pinney (William & Nathalie) House
1938 (1930) W. Adams St.
 November 2007 (Construction Date: circa 1899)
Pratt-Gilbert Building
 200 S. Central Ave. / One W. Madison St. 
October 2001 (Construction Date: 1913)
Professional Building
 137 N. Central Ave. / 15 E. Monroe St.
January 1993 (Construction Date: 1931)
Progressive Builders Association
 2019 E. Broadway Road
. June 2005 (Construction Date: 1953)
Pueblo Revival Residence
 8048 (8050) S. 14th St. 
March 2008 (Construction Date: 1930)
Pueblo Revival Residence
 46 E. Greenway Road
. July 1993 (Construction Date: 1926)
Pugh (Charles) House 
356 N. Second Ave. 
September 2003 (Construction Date: 1897)
Rancho Joaquina House 
4630 E. Cheery Lynn Road. 
April 1987 (Construction Date: 1924)
Rancho Ko-Mat-Ke House
 1346 E. South Mountain Ave.
April 1989 (Construction Date: 1925)
Rehbein Grocery 
1227-1231 Grand Ave.
 November 2005 (Construction Date: circa 1920-1927)
Roberts (Oscar) House 
2004 W. Madison St.
 October 2002 (Construction Date: 1893)
Roosevelt Community Church 
924 N. First St. 
September 2004 (Construction Date: 1925)
Rosson (Dr. Roland L.) House 
115 N. Sixth St. 
Landmark designation March 2004 (Construction Date: 1894-1895)
Sachs-Webster Farmstead
 Located at the southwest corner of 75th Avenue and Baseline Road. 
December 2003 (Construction Date: circa 1909)
Sacred Heart Church 
801 S. 16th St.
 October 2007 (Construction Date: 1954-1956)
St. Mary's Basilica 
231 N. Third St.
 April 1987 (Construction Date: 1903-1913)
Santa Fe Freight Depot
 501 W. Jackson St. 
July 2000 (Construction Date: 1929)
Santa Rita Center
1017 E. Hadley St.
 October 2007 (Construction Date: circa 1962)
Scorpion Gulch 
10225 S. Central Ave. 
October 1990 (Construction Date: 1936)
Seargeant-Oldaker House 
649 N. Third Ave.
September 1986 (Construction Date: 1911)
Security Building 
234 N. Central Ave.
July 1987 (Construction Date: 1927-1928)
Sedler (John) House 
1204 E. Roosevelt St. 
February 2005 (Construction Date: 1912)
Shell Oil Company 
425 S. 16th Ave. 
April 1987 (Construction Date: 1925)
Sierra Vista 
6802 S. 28th St.
March 1993 (Construction Date: 1913)
Sixth Avenue Hotel / Windsor Hotel
546 W. Adams St.
 June 1987 (Construction Date: 1893; remodeled circa 1935)
Skinner (E.W.) House 
917 E. Roosevelt St.
 October 2002 (Construction Date: circa 1899)
Smith (Walter Lee) House
 7202 N. Seventh Ave. 
May 2003 (Construction Date: 1928)
Smurthwaite House 
1317 W. Jefferson St. 
Landmark designation March 2004 (Construction Date: 1897)
Sotelo-Heard Cemetery 
Located southeast of the intersection of 12th Street and Broadway Road. 
October 2007 (Construction Date: circa 1896)
Southwest Cotton Company/Karlson Machine Works 
605 E. Grant St.
June 2005 (Construction Date: circa 1918)
Spanish Colonial Revival Residence 
47 E. Carter Road. 
March 2008 (Construction Date: circa 1927)
Spanish Colonial Revival Residence
 133 E. Carter Road. July 1993 (Construction Date: 1930)
Spanish Colonial Revival Residence
 333 E. Carter Road. July 1993 (Construction Date: 1916)
Spanish Colonial Revival Residence 
1200 W. South Mountain Ave. 
March 2008 (Construction Date: circa 1926)
Spanish Colonial Revival Residence 
6451 S. 28th St. 
March 2008 (Construction Date: circa 1930)
Stag Hotel / Patio Hotel 
27 W. Madison St.
October 2001 (Construction Date: 1931)
Stoddard-Harmon House 
801 N. First Ave.
 September 1986 (Construction Date: circa 1910)
Storage Warehouse (Ice House) 
429 W. Jackson St.
 April 1987 (Construction Date: 1910-1916)
Stoughton (Ralph H.) Estate 
805 W. South Mountain Ave.
 May 1990; boundary adjustment June 2006 (Construction Date: 1930-1931)
Strong (Walter) Residence
 2501 E. Baseline Road. 
March 1993 (Construction Date: 1933)
Stubbs (Courtney and Hilda) House
 1245 E. Ocotillo Road. 
February 2006 (Construction Date: circa 1928)
Sun Mercantile Building 
232 S. Third St. March 1987 (Construction Date: 1929)
Swindall Tourist Inn
 1021 E. Washington St.
 October 1996 (Construction Date: 1913)
Temple Beth Israel/First Chinese Baptist Church 
122 E. Culver St.
June 2006 (Construction Date: 1921-1922)
Title & Trust Building
 112 N. First Ave. / 114 W. Adams St.
May 1987 (Construction Date: 1931)
Tovrea Castle
 5041 E. Van Buren St.
December 1990, landmark designation and boundary expansion March 2004 
(Construction Date: 1928-1931)
Tovrea Land and Cattle Co. Administration Building/Stockyards Restaurant 
5009 E. Washington St. 
March 2004 (Construction Date: 1947; rebuilt 1953-1954)
Tudor Revival Residence
 120 E. Carter Road
July 1993 (Construction Date: 1936)
Tudor Revival Residence 
106 E. Greenway Road
. July 1993 (Construction Date: 1931)
Tudor Revival Residence 
1600 W. Colter St. 
March 2003 (Construction Date: circa 1925)
Tweed (Judge Charles A.) House 
1611 W. Fillmore St. 
September 1988 (Construction Date: circa 1880)
U.S. Post Office / Federal Building
 522 N. Central Ave.
October 1990 (Construction Date: 1932-1936)
University Park Bath House 
Located within University Park between 10th and 12th avenues, Van Buren and Polk streets
April 1989 (Construction Date: 1934)
Vernacular Farm Residence 
2956 E. Southern Ave. 
August 1992 (Construction Date: 1915)
Vernacular Residence
 818 S. First Ave.
 October 2002 (Construction Date: circa 1885)
Wakelin (E.S.) Grocery Company Warehouse
 440 W. Jackson St.
 July 2000 (Construction Date: 1913)
Walker (J.W.) Building / Central Arizona Light & Power Company 
300 W. Washington St. / 30 N. Third Ave.
October 1996 (Construction Date: 1920)
Washington (Booker T.) School
 1201 E. Jefferson St.
 June 2005 (Construction Date: 1928)
Wastewater Treatment Plant Control Building 
2301 W. Durango St.
 October 1992 (Construction Date: 1931)
Webster Auditorium 
Located within Papago Park
October 1989 (Construction Date: 1939)
Western Wholesale Drug Company Warehouse 
101 E. Jackson St.
 July 1987 (Construction Date: 1925)
Whitney (J.T.) Funeral Chapel
 330 N. Second Ave.
 April 1987 (Construction Date: 1926)
Whittier (John G.) School 
2000 N. 16th St. 
March 2005 (Construction Date: 1929)
Wormley (Dr. Lowell) House
 1910 E. Broadway Road
. June 2005 (Construction Date: 1949)
Wrigley (William Jr.) Mansion 
2501 E. Telawa Trail
. May 1990 (Construction Date: 1930)

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