Our Community Projects, Outreach
& Advocacy
Local Historic Preservation
We work to protect endangered properties and coordinate preservation efforts that honors our unique community narrative while enriching the physical environment.
We coordinate community outreach that helps connect the Tempe of today with its past, highlighting places, people and events that helps tell Tempe’s unique story.
We support local projects, initiatives and municipal efforts that support Tempe’s cultural resources and identity while protecting the places that reflect diverse heritage and rich history of our community.
Preservation Work & Advocacy
Local Historic Preservation
We work to protect endangered properties and coordinate preservation efforts that honors our unique community narrative while enriching the physical environment.
We coordinate community outreach events connecting the Tempe of today with its past, highlighting places, people and history that helps tell Tempe’s unique story and growth as a community.
We support local projects, initiatives and municipal efforts that support Tempe’s cultural resources and identity while protecting the places that reflect diverse heritage and rich history of our community.
PROJECTS
Our organization began with the revitalization of the Eisendrath House and has continued to focus on moving local historic preservation projects forward.
OUR PROJECTS
Our organization began with the revitalization of the Eisendrath House and has continued to focus on moving local historic preservation projects forward.
Preservation Project
Double Butte Cemetery Revitalization
Honoring Tempe’s recent Sesquicentennial in 2021, the Tempe Historic Preservation Foundation launched its campaign to protect and revitalize Double Butte Cemetery. Hosting a diverse cross section of past community members along side native desert scenery, plants and wildlife, the cemetery offers a special place for reflection on Tempe’s cultural and environmental history.
Preservation Project
Double Butte Cemetery Revitalization
Honoring Tempe’s recent Sesquicentennial in 2021, the Tempe Historic Preservation Foundation launched its campaign to protect and revitalize Double Butte Cemetery. Hosting a diverse cross section of past community members along side native desert scenery, plants and wildlife, the cemetery offers a special place for reflection on Tempe’s cultural and environmental history.
Preservation Project
Eisendrath House Rehabilitation
Following a decade long fundraising and rehabilitation initiative lead by the Tempe Historic Preservation Foundation, 1930 Eisendrath House was re-opened to the public in 2015. This beautiful Pueblo Revival Style Adobe building not only represents a stunning piece of architectural design and heritage, but also offers a unique glimpse into the social and cultural evolution of the Valley.
Preservation Project
Eisendrath House Rehabilitation
Following a decade long fundraising and rehabilitation initiative lead by the Tempe Historic Preservation Foundation, 1930 Eisendrath House was re-opened to the public in 2015. This beautiful Pueblo Revival Style Adobe building not only represents a stunning piece of architectural design and heritage, but also offers a unique glimpse into the social and cultural evolution of the Valley.
Preservation Project
Tempe Historic Marker Program
In 2011, the Tempe Historic Preservation Foundation and Tempe Preservation Office spearheaded the creation of customized bronze markers for sites on the Tempe Historic Property Register in honor Arizona’s Centennial. Community members and organizations sponsored the markers at diverse locations across the city ranging from Valley Art Theater and Mill Avenue Bridge to the Loma del Rio Archeological Site in Papago Park Preserve.
Preservation Project
Tempe Historic Marker Program
In 2011, the Tempe Historic Preservation Foundation and Tempe Preservation Office spearheaded the creation of customized bronze markers for sites on the Tempe Historic Property Register in honor Arizona’s Centennial. Community members and organizations sponsored the markers at diverse locations across the city ranging from Valley Art Theater and Mill Avenue Bridge to the Loma del Rio Archeological Site in Papago Park Preserve.
OUTREACH
We coordinate and hosts diverse tours through the year enabling our guests explore and learn more about Tempe’s historic places first hand.
OUR OUTREACH
We coordinate and hosts diverse tours throughout the year enabling our guests explore and learn more about Tempe’s historic places first hand.
Community Programs
Downtown History Walking Tours
The Foundation’s signature Downtown History Walking Tour explores the city’s past through its historic buildings and Mill Avenue streetscape. Starting at the Hacket House, guests are teamed with local historians and given special access to historic properties along the route. Surprisingly, downtown Tempe is not incorporated into a historic district, and needs continuing community support to help ensure its unique heritage is protected.
Community Programs
Downtown History Walking Tours
The Foundation’s signature Downtown History Walking Tour explores the city’s past through its historic buildings and Mill Avenue streetscape. Starting at the Hacket House, guests are teamed with local historians and given special access to historic properties along the route. Surprisingly, downtown Tempe is not incorporated into a historic district, and needs continuing community support to help ensure its unique heritage is protected.
Community Programs
Double Butte Cemetery Tours
As one of Tempe’s richest historical sites, Double Butte Cemetery reflects the diversity of our community history along with our connection to the Sonoran Desert. Our tours often highlight unique stories of individuals that contributed to the identity and growth of Tempe through character reenactments. The Foundation is currently spreadheading an effort to revitalize the cemetery to while honoring its cultural and environmental significance.
Community Programs
Double Butte Cemetery Tours
As one of Tempe’s richest historical sites, Double Butte Cemetery reflects the diversity of our community history along with our connection to the Sonoran Desert. Our tours often highlight unique stories of individuals that contributed to the identity and growth of Tempe through character reenactments. The Foundation is currently spreadheading an effort to revitalize the cemetery to while honoring its cultural and environmental significance.
Community Programs
Tempe Adobe Tours
Tempe holds an interesting collection of adobe structures that not only connect us to our past, but also the future. Our bus tours transport guests around the city of Tempe showcasing and modern buildings that have incorporated this technology into its design to better adapt to the Arizona heat. Adobe is particularly susceptible to the elements, our adobe heritage needs special attention when its comes historic preservation.
Community Programs
Tempe Adobe Tours
Tempe holds an interesting collection of adobe structures that not only connect us to our past, but also the future. Our bus tours transport guests around the city of Tempe showcasing and modern buildings that have incorporated this technology into its design to better adapt to the Arizona heat. Adobe is particularly susceptible to the elements, our adobe heritage needs special attention when its comes historic preservation.
Community Programs
Special Events
Whether through fundraising events, community festivals or special access to Tempe’s historic properties, our Foundation continues to hosts diverse opportunities to explore our local history and highlighting historic places and people while advocating the value of local preservation. Please follow us on Facebook for the latest on upcoming events, tours and activities.
Community Programs
Special Events
Whether through fundraising events, community festivals or special access to Tempe’s historic properties, our Foundation continues to hosts diverse opportunities to explore our local history and highlighting historic places and people while advocating the value of local preservation. Please follow us on Facebook for the latest on upcoming events, tours and activities.
ADVOCACY
The following historical properties represent critical initiatives where the foundation is working closely with Tempe City Hall to ensure their protection and continued preservation as historic sites.
OUR ADVOCACY
The following historical properties represent critical initiatives where the foundation is working closely with Tempe City Hall to ensure their protection and continued preservation as historic sites.
Preservation Advocacy
Historic Properties & Cultural Resources
Helping save local historic places and their stories nurtures Tempe’s unique identity and heritage. While change is inevitable as city’s continues to evolve, there are many effective ways to encourage the protection, revitalization and reuse of historic properties within our community’s continued growth. In turn, the Foundation supports and encourages both municipal and private initiatives that protect Tempe’s historic properties and cultural resources.
Preservation Advocacy
Historic Properties & Cultural Resources
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Helping save local historic places and their stories nurtures Tempe’s unique identity and heritage. While change is inevitable as city’s continues to evolve, there are many effective ways to encourage the protection, revitalization and reuse of historic properties within our community’s continued growth. In turn, the Foundation supports and encourages both municipal and private initiatives that protect Tempe’s historic properties and cultural resources.
Preservation Advocacy
Historic Neighborhood Resources
The diversity of Tempe’s neighborhoods underpins our community’s character. Honoring a neighborhood’s unique identity can include interpretative installations, public art highlighting local heritage, encouraging investment in historic preservation of private property or even establishing a historic neighborhood district. The foundation supports efforts to protect the local identity and leverage historic preservation within Tempe neighborhoods.
Preservation Advocacy
Historic Neighborhood Resources
The diversity of Tempe’s neighborhoods underpins our community’s character. Honoring a neighborhood’s unique identity can include interpretative installations, public art highlighting local heritage, encouraging investment in historic preservation of private property or even establishing a historic neighborhood district. The foundation supports efforts to protect the local identity and leverage historic preservation within Tempe neighborhoods.
Preservation Advocacy
Downtown Historic Core
With its definitive collection of historic buildings, many are surprised that the City of Tempe has never designated an official historic district for this culturally significant area. The Foundation encourages the city to form a designation protecting what remains of our downtown’s historic character, enhancing the identity and livability of our urban core while maintaining a rich and engaging balance between new and old as the community continues to evolve.
Preservation Advocacy
Downtown Historic Core
With its definitive collection of historic buildings, many are surprised that the City of Tempe has never designated an official historic district for this culturally significant area. The Foundation encourages the city to form a designation protecting what remains of our downtown’s historic character, enhancing the identity and livability of our urban core while maintaining a rich and engaging balance between new and old as the community continues to evolve.
Preservation Advocacy
Tempe Desert Preserves
Tempe is blessed with amazing natural topography beautifying our skyline and connecting us to our Sonoran heritage. While much of these lands are protected by municipal desert preserves, growth continues to impact these environments and their view sheds. The Foundation continues to support development solutions that protect the visibility of these valuable environmental assets.
Preservation Advocacy
Tempe Desert Preserves
Tempe is blessed with amazing natural topography beautifying our skyline and connecting us to our Sonoran heritage. While much of these lands are protected by municipal desert preserves, growth continues to impact these environments and their view sheds. The Foundation continues to support development solutions that protect the visibility of these valuable environmental assets.
Preservation Advocacy
Four Southern Tribes
Situated within the ancestral lands of the Akimel O’Odham (Pima) and Piipaash (Maricopa) Indian Communities, Tempe occupies a landscape rich in indigenous heritage. Our Foundation supports SRP-MIC’s mission to protect , preserve and spread awareness about their traditional cultural knowledge, places of cultural significance and evidence of their Huhugam ancestors and culture.
Preservation Advocacy
Four Southern Tribes
Situated within the ancestral lands of the Akimel O’Odham (Pima) and Piipaash (Maricopa) Indian Communities, Tempe occupies a landscape rich in indigenous heritage. Our Foundation supports SRP-MIC’s mission to protect , preserve and spread awareness about their traditional cultural knowledge, places of cultural significance and evidence of their Huhugam ancestors and culture.
FEATURED ADVOCACY EFFORTS
FEATURED ADVOCACY EFFORTS
Featured Preservation Advocacy
Gonzales-Martinez House
Recognized as the last remaining example of working-class Mexican-American home sites from Tempe’s territorial era, the Gonzales-Martinez House offers a valuable window into the community’s early settlement history. The Foundation is working with the city to ensure that this invaluable cultural resource is protected and integrated thoughtfully into future development plans for the property.
Featured Preservation Advocacy
Gonzales-Martinez House
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Recognized as the last remaining example of working-class Mexican-American home sites from Tempe’s territorial era, the Gonzales-Martinez House offers a valuable window into the community’s early settlement history. The Foundation is working with the city to ensure that this invaluable cultural resource is protected and integrated thoughtfully into future development plans for the property.
Featured Preservation Advocacy
Hayden Flour Mill & Silos
Hayden Flour Mill and Silos holds an extensive history dating back to 1874 while also serving as one of Tempe’s most iconic landmarks. The City of Tempe is currently in the process of considering options for a redevelopment solution for the Hayden Flour Mill property. The Foundation supports strict adherence to federal preservation guidelines while protecting the historical site’s desert landscape heritage and view sheds.
Featured Preservation Advocacy
Hayden Flour Mill & Silos
Hayden Flour Mill and Silos holds an extensive history dating back to 1874 while also serving as one of Tempe’s most iconic landmarks. The City of Tempe is currently in the process of considering options for a redevelopment solution for the Hayden Flour Mill property. The Foundation supports strict adherence to federal preservation guidelines while protecting the historical site’s desert landscape heritage and view sheds.
Featured Preservation Advocacy
Hayden House Rehabilitation
The Hayden House not only represents the original home site of Tempe’s founder Charles Hayden but also the longest continually occupied building in Maricopa County. The Foundation helped ensure the historic property was protected and indigenous heritage honored, standing today as a tangible reminder Tempe’s early pioneer years and significance of the Salt River Valley as homeland of the Akimel O’Odham and Piipash communities.
Featured Preservation Advocacy
Hayden House Rehabilitation
The Hayden House not only represents the original home site of Tempe’s founder Charles Hayden but also the longest continually occupied building in Maricopa County. The Foundation helped ensure the historic property was protected and indigenous heritage honored, standing today as a tangible reminder Tempe’s early pioneer years and significance of the Salt River Valley as homeland of the Akimel O’Odham and Piipash communities.
Featured Preservation Advocacy
Harrington - Birchett House
Built in 1895, the ‘Harrington – Birchett House’ was home to Tempe mayor Joseph Birchett and self-trained ornithologist Guess Birchett who maintained the property as a federally protected bird sanctuary for thirty years. While The plans to demolish the Harrington – Birchett House by Arizona State University are currently on hold, there are no plans in place for its protection as local heritage site.
Featured Preservation Advocacy
Harrington - Birchett House
Built in 1895, the ‘Harrington – Birchett House’ was home to Tempe mayor Joseph Birchett and self-trained ornithologist Guess Birchett who maintained the property as a federally protected bird sanctuary for thirty years. While The plans to demolish the Harrington – Birchett House by Arizona State University are currently on hold, there are no plans in place for its protection as local heritage site.
Featured Preservation Advocacy
Tempe Women's Club
The Tempe Women’s Club building was constructed in 1936 as social and civic hub for the community, with a adobe “bearing wall” design that was rarely seen during at this late period for “non-residential buildings”. The club house stands today much it did in the 1930’s, reflecting decades of Tempe community events. After an extensive legal battle by Tempe Women’s Club to retain ownership, it is currently on the open market without any intention for protection.
Featured Preservation Advocacy
Tempe Women's Club
The Tempe Women’s Club building was constructed in 1936 as social and civic hub for the community, with a adobe “bearing wall” design that was rarely seen during at this late period for “non-residential buildings”. The club house stands today much it did in the 1930’s, reflecting decades of Tempe community events. After an extensive legal battle by Tempe Women’s Club to retain ownership, it is currently on the open market without any intention for protection.
Featured Advocacy Project
Watson's Flowers
Originally built as a gas station in 1920 along the transnational ‘Bankhead Highway’, this unique adobe structure on the Tempe – Mesa border represents an early chapter in the rise of automobile culture in the United States. Known for its iconic neon signage (now removed) and curving ‘Moderne’ architecture style, the historic property is under the city ownership but its future and incorporation into pending redevelopment plans are still very unclear.
Featured Advocacy Project
Watson's Flowers
Originally built as a gas station in 1920 along the transnational ‘Bankhead Highway’, this unique adobe structure on the Tempe – Mesa border represents an early chapter in the rise of automobile culture in the United States. Known for its iconic neon signage (now removed) and curving ‘Moderne’ architecture style, the historic property is under the city ownership but its future and incorporation into pending redevelopment plans are still very unclear.