Full Description
Explore deep into the heart of Phoenix to find its best kept secrets, natural wonders, and inspiring people - not to mention a few ghosts - and discover the Western charm that still permeates the culture here. Visit a mystery castle, a gleaming white pyramid on a hilltop in Papago Park, and a curiosity shop on 7th Avenue. You can stargaze on horseback or at the top of a spiral tower resembling the Milky Way. Offer your respects at one of the numerous sites honouring the USS Arizona and the famed Navajo Code Talkers. Revel in the sight of Frank Lloyd Wright architecture, find true beauty beneath a gorgeous peacock staircase, and ponder why a giant robot is reading a book instead of tapping on its smartphone. From the world's tallest Kachina doll to sharks in a toilet, Phoenix is a haven for those who are adventurous and have a passion the Wild West of yesterday and today.
Contents
9/11 Memorial Pony
World's largest firefighting museum | 10
Airport Art Collection
A phoenix, giant aviators, and so much more | 12
Alwun House
Downtown art pioneers, of a unique sort | 14
Anthem Veterans Memorial
Solar spotlight at 11:11am on 11/11 | 16
Arizona Doll & Toy Museum
A 300-year-old doll and Mr. Spock, too | 18
Arizona Falls
Phoenix's first hydroelectric power plant | 20
Arizona Latino Arts & Cultural Center
Raising up Latin American culture | 22
Base and Meridian Marker
From where (almost) all Arizona land is measured | 24
The Bat Cave
Thousands of bats in dramatic flight | 26
Battleship Silver Service
Stately tableware shines solemnly | 28
Bernie the Robot
Reminding you to look up from your phone | 30
The Bible Museum
Not your standard hotel Bibles | 32
Bil Keane's Tomb
A beloved cartoonist depicted family funnies | 34
Blonde Butcher's House
Where jealousy led to murder | 36
Bragg's Pie Factory
Now a haven for local artists and entrepreneurs | 38
Buddy Stubbs Bikes
The Southwest's largest collection of motorcycles | 40
Calvin C. Goode Building
Remarkable career begets building namesake | 42
Cancer Survivors Park
Hopefully one day a historic relic | 44
Carnegie Public Library
Phoenix's first public library building | 46
Centennial Time Capsule
To be opened...in 100 years | 48
Centennial Way
100 years of Arizona history in plain sight | 50
The Circle of Life
Dark history of forced assimilation | 52
Copper Company Locomotive
A relic from the early days of mining | 54
Cosanti
A living testament to Paolo Soleri's "arcology" | 56
Curious Nature
Tarot, taxidermy, and tea leaves | 58
Cutler-Plotkin Jewish Heritage Center
The first synagogue in Phoenix | 60
Del Monte Market
The oldest market in Arizona | 62
Disco Dragon
The décor brings you in, the food brings you back | 64
Dobbins Lookout
Petroglyphs, saguaros, and scenic views | 66
Dolly Steamboat
Cruise on Canyon Lake | 68
Dulceria La Bonita
Celebrations are better with a giant piñata | 70
Elvis Chapel
This movie set survived two fires | 72
Encanto Carousel
Locals saved this historic treasure | 74
Estrella Star Tower
A tribute to stargazing cultures | 76
First Christian Church
A born-again Frank Lloyd Wright | 78
Flite Goodyear
Offices, radar, aircraft, blimp, tires, cotton | 80
Flying V Cabin
The bloodiest family feud in history | 82
Frank Lloyd Wright Spire
Commemorative park hidden in plain sight | 84
Fry Bread House
Community is the most important ingredient | 86
Fry's Downtown
Construction revealed recent and ancient history | 88
GenuWine Arizona
Enjoy self-pour wines from Arizona | 90
Geographical Center of Phoenix
A phoenix marks the heart of Phoenix | 92
Giant Golden Panda
Pandas are so cute, even at 13 feet tall | 94
Giving Tree Café
"Welcome to a Space of Love" | 96
Governor Hunt's Tomb
Arizona's first governor interred under a pyramid | 98
Grunow Memorial Clinic
Only historic building to retain its original use | 100
Hanny's Bathroom
The most Instagrammable loo in town | 102
Hawk Salvage
Your destination for one-of-a-kind curios | 104
Her Secret is Patience
Inspired by monsoon clouds | 106
Historic Fire Station 8
If the engine is in the driveway, they're open | 108
Historic Sahuaro Ranch
Peacocks with ties to Chicago and Mexico | 110
Hohokam Ancestral Grounds
Meet the Native Americans who built our canals | 112
Home of the Diamondbacks
Tour Chase Field year-round | 114
Ira H. Hayes USMC Memorial
Pima Indian was one of the Iwo Jima flag raisers | 116
Irish Cultural Center
A tale of a collection, a cottage, and a castle | 118
Japanese Friendship Garden
Showcasing four regions of Japan | 120
Liberty Bell
Arizona's traveled the state, and beyond | 122
LIX Uptown Ice Cream
Award-winning and even lactose-free | 124
Long Wong's
Deliciously "winging it" since 1980 | 126
MacAlpine's Soda Fountain
Ice cream sundaes, dinner with pie, and antiques | 128
Magic Carpet Underpass
Taking beautification to great heights | 130
Majestic Tempe 7
Movie parties, curated film, and tea time | 132
Maricopa County Justice Museum
Where the Miranda Warning was established | 134
Martin Auto Museum
The rise, fall, and rise again of the iconic Tucker | 136
Mel's Diner
"Kiss my grits!" | 138
Melinda's Alley Speakeasy
Kindhearted lady of the evening | 140
Merci Train
49 boxcars of gratitude from France | 142
Mexican Arts Imports
A mecca for Mexican arts | 144
The Onion House
Evans House, among the oldest private homes | 146
Origin of Phoenix Newspapers
A plaque marks the city's first newspapers | 148
Palm Lane
A Hollywood-like drive without the LA traffic | 150
Papago Park Amphitheater
3,500-seats now abandoned | 152
Peacock Staircase
Mae West and others graced these stairs | 154
Penske Racing Museum
Cars, trophies, and racing legends | 156
Petroglyph Preserve
Art, cultural, way-making, or religious icons? | 158
PHX Cat Café
Helping kitties find their 'fur-ever' homes | 160
Piestewa Peak
The first Native American woman killed in combat | 162
Pioneer Memorial Park
Seven historic cemeteries dating 1884 to 1914 | 164
Pip Coffee + Clay
Make a mug that looks like your dog | 166
Ponderosa Stables
Spectacular valley views, especially at sunset | 168
Prince Tribute Mural
Let's go crazy for Phoenix mural culture | 170
The Psycho Building
Classic scenes from Psycho filmed in Phoenix | 172
Rainbow Wings Photo-Op
An open-armed welcome to the LGBTQIA+ community | 174
Rancher Hat Bar
Design your own cowboy hat | 176
Rare Crested Saguaro
Scientists baffled by cause of mutation | 178
Redwood Pipeline Scandal
First efforts in municipal water works had leaks | 180
Rosson House
Arizona's first bride lived here | 182
Rustler's Rooste
Slide into a rattlesnake and cactus appetizer | 184
Samurai Comics
Bring the whole family | 186
San Carlos Hotel Star Walk
Walk amongst the Hollywood stars...and ghosts? | 188
Schreiner's Fine Sausages
It's bigger on the inside | 190
Scorpion Gulch
Trading post and a home near a gold mine | 192
Sisters of Mercy
Memorial Wall chronicles a history of healing | 194
Sphinx Date Co.
A date night with a date shake and more dates | 196
Spielberg's Film Debut
An award-deserving 'red carpet' experience | 198
St. Mary's Basilica
Pope John Paul II prayed here | 200
Stardust Pinbar
Walk-in cooler door is a pinball rabbit hole | 202
The Sun Worshipper
A landmark returns decades later | 204
Susan Arreola Postcard Collection
Time travel through 2,500 vintage postcards | 206
Thunderbird Field No. 1
Funded by Hollywood, future WWII pilots trained here | 208
Tonto Hills Kachina
The world's largest kachina doll | 210
Tony DeMarco's Living Room
Once a "champion" piano bar | 212
Tribute to Navajo Code Talkers
The unbreakable code during World War II | 214
Uptown Farmers Market
Local food, local crafts, and lots of locals | 216
USS Arizona Anchor
Heavy on the hearts of her visitors | 218
Valley Youth Theatre
Emma Stone performed in 16 productions here | 220
Water Mark
Enchanting, gigantic, equine gargoyles | 222
West Wind Drive-In
Date Night old school style, but modern | 224
Whisked Away Cooking School
A reluctant cook becomes a chef and teacher | 226
Wide World Maps & MORE!
Largest map store in the Southwest | 228
Xeriscape Garden
Gardening possibilities in low-water spaces | 230
