Vanishing Phoenix

Images of America: Arizona

by Robert A. Melikian

Lord Darrell Duppa, along with his friend Jack Swilling, suggested the name "Phoenix" for the city he had cofounded because it described a city born from the ruins of a former civilization. Settled on the ancestral lands of the Hohokam Indians, Phoenix was thriving by the early 1920s when craftsmanship and attention to detail were the orders of the day. Buildings were designed to welcome residents and travelers alike. Today the Fox Theater, the Clark Churchill House, the Kon Tiki Hotel, and the Fleming Building exist only in photographs and in the memories of Phoenix residents. The National Register of Historic Places and the Phoenix Historic Property Register have heightened public awareness and appreciation for the community's historic landmarks, but much has been lost already. Remembering these buildings and landmarks is essential to understanding this remarkable city.

Genres: History

128 pages, Paperback

First published January 27, 2010

Reviews

[Kathy · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is the saddest book I ever read. Phoenix could have been so amazing, so historical... so many beautiful buildings, just gone. It's always struck me that I live in a place where city leaders think the best way to handle historical property is to build a square of "luxury apartments" on it... and this book illustrates it beautifully with extensive photographs of long-gone treasures.

About the only complaint I have is that the histories are short (as to be expected, for a photo book), and there ARE a few typos, particularly in the last chapter. But otherwise....

Worth keeping in my collection.

[Sarah Raley · Rating 5 out of 5]

Came across this book on display at my local library. I’ve been in Phoenix for over 10 years and though I’ve grown to love it, there’s just something missing. Well, now I know what it is!! It’s the historic buildings!! I’ve always complained that Phoenix just isn’t an old town and doesn’t feel like those old towns back east. Well, that’s not true. It is an old town. They’ve just destroyed every bit of the old town. It’s really sad. There are a few places that have survived, but it is so sad looking thru this book and seeing all the beautiful old buildings that really would have given Phoenix that character that it is so missing. Let’s hope we can save something’s for the next generation.