PHOENIX — A venue for vaudeville acts, a bustling train hub and a collection of clay-filled relics from centuries gone by. Phoenix is filled with pieces of the city's expansive history.
The Valley of the Sun has a storied past since the city officially became a part of Arizona in 1868. March is Phoenix History Month and we're looking back at the unique beginnings of the Valley and some locations where you can learn more about the city's history.
To navigate through all of the history, 12News spoke with official historian Steve Schumacher. In honor of the month, Schumacher revealed his top five historic places in Phoenix.
Here's what he had to say:
Orpheum Theater
The Orpheum Theater in downtown Phoenix is one of the most iconic entertainment venues in the Valley. According to the venue website, the theater opened in January 1929. When it first opened, the Orpheum was the only theatre between Los Angeles and Denver large enough to accommodate traveling vaudeville shows.
"It's just incredibly ornate," Schumacher said. "It's a crown jewel of Phoenix."
He added that the theater went through some down years early on, but it was renovated by the city and found a new life.
If you're a paranormal enthusiast, the Orpheum is home to its fair share of ghost stories. Schumacher mentioned one of the more prominent apparitions is of a girl named "Maddie" who is seen wandering the balcony.
Union Station
When you think of Phoenix, a bustling train station doesn't immediately come to mind, but Union Station in Phoenix was an important part of the transportation landscape in the city.
It all started in 1887 when the first train rolled into town. In 1923 the Union Station was built and started a new source of transportation in the Valley.
"That changed the whole landscape of shipping goods out and bringing goods in," Schumacher said. "It was the Sky Harbor of its time."
During its heyday, the station had about seven to nine passenger trains in use, according to Schumacher.
Heritage Square
Anyone who has been to downtown Phoenix has certainly seen the vintage buildings near 7th and Van Buren streets.
Standing proudly in the middle of the square is the Rosson House, a fully-restored 1895 Queen Anne Victorian house museum. The building is a time capsule of Phoenix history and is only accessible through guided tours.
"It's an example of the Phoenix decision makers trying to encourage home building that was large and ornate," Schumacher stated. "It's a beautiful example of Victorian architecture."
When it was built in the late 1800s, Schumacher said when you walked out of the east side of the house and crossed 7th Street, you were essentially out of town. The street was essentially the border of town during that time. It's a different view nowadays.
Phoenix Union High School
Schumacher said when he thinks of the most historic places in Phoenix, the old Phoenix Union High School has a big significance to the Valley's past. The first school in Phoenix was originally located where the current Hotel San Carlos stands today.
As Phoenix began to grow, in the 1890s it was decided that a new school on a new property should be built. It would become Phoenix Union High School.
According to Schumacher, there was a mansion built near 7th and Van Buren streets and the city ended up buying it and converting it into a high school.
S'edav Va'aki Museum
Formerly known as the Pueblo Grande Museum, this important piece of Phoenix history is still open and available for visitors to see a glimpse at what life was like centuries ago.
When you think about the history of the Phoenix area, the local Native American culture is an important chapter in its legacy. A piece of that legacy is still visible today at the S'edav Va'aki Museum.
Located near 44th and Washington Streets in Phoenix, the museum is described as a "gateway to the cultural history of the Phoenix area." The 1,500-year-old archaeological site and museum is filled with artifacts and sites from centuries past and gives visitors a unique look back in time.
"We talk about Central and Washington and the original streets and those types of things," Schumacher proclaimed. "But if you really want to experience where the Valley as a whole began, go out to S'edav Va'aki and walk those grounds."
For more in-depth stories and videos about Arizona's past, visit our website at 12news.com/history.
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