When most people think of pyramids, they envision the giant structures found in Egypt or Central America. However, you may be surprised to learn that you don’t need to visit these exotic locations to view such a structure—you simply need to visit Papago Park in Phoenix, AZ, where the pyramid tomb of Arizona governor George W.P. Hunt resides.
The Story of Governor Hunt
Governor George Hunt was the first governor of Arizona, a position in which he eventually served seven terms. Hunt was also the president of the convention responsible for drafting the Constitution of the State of Arizona. During his years in office, Hunt worked to enact legislature restricting child labor, usury, and lobbying, as well as working for the betterment of state employees, including the creation of workers’ compensation and pensions. Hunt was often considered a benefactor and friend to the common man, while acting as an opposing force against large companies such as mining trusts and railroad companies. During his political career, he also served as the U.S. Minister to Siam between 1920 and 1921.
The Story of Hunt’s Tomb
When Hunt’s wife of 27 years passed away in 1931, he had a pyramid erected in an area that now lies within Papago Park to serve as a mausoleum. The pyramid stands at 20 feet tall and is faced with white tile. After his death from heart failure in 1934, Hunt was placed in the tomb alongside his wife; Hunt’s daughter and his wife’s family are also interred in the pyramid as well. When Papago Park was established, an iron fence was erected around Hunt’s tomb to protect this historic gravesite, which was added to the National Register of Historic Places in 2008.
