Historic Sites to See on Your Trip to Phoenix

Friends and colleagues, are you making the trip to Phoenix for the CLDA Final Mile Forum and Expo? In addition to the networking opportunities and educational events at the conference, you won’t want to miss the chance to explore Phoenix. The Sheraton Wild Horse Pass, which I have written about previously, is the perfect home base for enjoying the natural beauty of the area, but Phoenix is also rich in history and has a long list of historic sites to explore.  I recommend making time for some of these local highlights.

Historic Sites to See on Your Trip to Phoenix

Tovrea Castle

Tovrea Castle at Carraro Heights draws visitors from all over the world and is a Phoenix Point of Pride site. It also has a place on the National Register of Historic Places.  So what is so special about this “castle” nestled on over 44 acres of land just a few miles from the Phoenix Sky Harbor International Airport?

Alessio Carraro, an Italian immigrant, purchased 277 acres of land outside the city limits of Phoenix in 1928 and wanted to build a castle resort. According to Alessio’s descendants, Alessio came to the United States in 1905 and when he took a trip back to Italy in 1923 he became enamored with the castles of his home country of Italy. He was intrigued by the hotel craze hitting Phoenix in the 1920’s and decided to invest the money he had made in his sheet metal business in San Francisco.  He had helped to rebuild San Francisco after the great earthquake of 1906.

Carraro’s hotel castle is a four-story wood-frame structure with stucco exteriors, a little more than 5,000 square feet in size and featuring nine hotel rooms on the upper floors. It is shaped like an elongated octagon and includes a full basement with tunnels carved out of the granite hilltop using dynamite; the basement walls are constructed of bricks he manufactured on the site. There is some additional historical information and photos on the city’s website.

After the Great Depression, Carraro was unable to open his resort hotel and sold the property in 1931 to Edward A. and Della Tovrea.  The property remained in the family until the city purchased the property in the early 1990s. The house’s last full-time occupant was Della Tovrea, so the castle has largely been unoccupied for the last 50 years.

To visit the castle, you will need a ticket for a docent-led tour, during which you’ll get to see the grounds as well as the building itself. As of writing this email there were still tickets available for tours on Friday May 10th and Saturday May 11th.  Tickets sell out quickly, so reserve yours online beforehand.

Frank Lloyd Wright Buildings

Thanks to his relationship with the city, you can find buildings designed by Frank Lloyd Wright dotted across Phoenix.  Some of his works include the Arizona Biltmore Hotel, Gammage Auditorium, and the David Wright House. Taliesin West, Wright’s winter home and current headquarters of the Frank Lloyd Wright Foundation, is in nearby Scottsdale. Tours are available of all of these properties. If you are an architect buff, these are all must see location.  You can find a more complete list of his work in Phoenix, here.

Orpheus Male Chorus of Phoenix

The Orpheus Male Chorus of Phoenix is one of the state’s longest-running performing arts organizations—they had their first show in 1929—and is sought worldwide for performances. The group performs a mix of show tunes, pop hits, folk songs, and classical works. Catching one of their performances is a must for all music lovers in search of a uniquely Phoenix experience.  They are truly unique to Phoenix and have a rich history tied to Arizona. You can find a lot more information on them on their website.

Heritage Square

Finally, if you are headed to downtown Phoenix or if you want to get a feel for what Phoenix looked like in the late 1800’s, Heritage Square is a striking reminder of the city’s vibrant Victorian past. Heritage square is located on Block 14 of the original townsite of Phoenix, the Square dates back to the late 1800s, and the restored Rosson House Museum is its crowning jewel.  There is something for everyone at the Heritage Square, from history, technology, and good food, to just a quiet place to reflect.

If you head to Heritage Square make sure to visit one of two recommended restaurants in the square.  The first is Nobuo at the Teeter House.  Nobuo is a bit fancy, but offers some amazing and inspired Asian fusion food.  The second is Pizzeria Bianco.  Pizzeria Bianco is constantly receiving awards as one of the best, if not the best, pizza places in Phoenix.  If you enjoy a farm fresh ingredients on a delicious brick oven pizza, then this is your place. Good food in Phoenix can often come with a bit of a wait and Pizzeria Bianco will often have an hour wait and does not take reservations.  The good news is they now have a bar right next door to help you pass the time away while you wait for some of the best brick oven pizza in Phoenix.

Some interesting Historical Laws in Arizona…

Arizona has its fair share of old and funny laws from many of our older cities.  Here are some of my favorites. 

  • In Mohave County a thief caught stealing a bar of soap must wash himself with it until it was all used up.
  • Maricopa County, which includes Phoenix, enacted a zoning ordinance to combat the booming brothel business which prohibited more than 6 women from living in one house.
  • Tombstone has a law that prohibits anyone over the age of 18 from smiling with less than one missing tooth.  All I can think of is that Doc Holiday was a dentist and a very smart man, I think he was looking to increase his business.

I am looking forward to seeing you all here in Arizona to share the rich history we have to offer.

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