Phoenix Then and Now®

Phoenix Then and Now features 70 vintage photos of the city situated along the Salt River, comparing them with present-day views. The city of Phoenix has a history dating back to 700 AD, known then as Pueblo Grande to the Spanish settlers. It was once home to an innovative agricultural community that built canal irrigation systems fed by the Salt River.

In 1865, the establishment of Fort McDowell by the U.S. military sparked the redevelopment of Phoenix and surrounding towns in the Salt River valley. Jack Swilling, traveling through the region on horseback in 1867, saw the potential for a new community in the desert setting. The name "Phoenix" was chosen to symbolize the rebirth of the town from the remnants of a former civilization, like the mythical bird rising from the ashes.

As Phoenix expanded rapidly, neighboring towns were absorbed into the metropolitan area. Tempe was founded south of the Salt River around 1870, followed by the establishment of Mesa to the east by Mormons in 1878 and the founding of Glendale in 1892 and Scottsdale in 1894 by land developers. Phoenix became the capital of Arizona in 1912.

Phoenix Then and Now traces the city's development history as it continued to grow throughout the twentieth century. The book showcases archival photos of the desert town alongside present-day images, highlighting the preservation of much of the city's early beginnings despite its rapid growth.

Notable sites featured in the book include Washington Street, First Avenue, City Hall, Heard Building, Hotel Adams, Luhrs Building, Phoenix Theater, Orpheum Theater, Hotel San Carlos, Union Station, Masonic Temple, Hotel Westward Ho, Arizona Capitol, Kenilworth School, Grunow Clinic, Brophy College, Arizona Biltmore, Tovrea Castle, and Tempe Bridges.

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