Phoenix 3: A Variety of Sites

For seven days at the end of January 2013, we visited a variety of sites in and around Phoenix Arizona. Each one was unique and we found them all to be very interesting. We learned a great deal about Phoenix and its environment, history, and culture. Most important, we had a lot of fun!

This post is a potpourri! It features photos from eight different sites in the Phoenix area. The sites range from Taliesin West (winter home of Frank Lloyd Wright) to to the new Musical Instrument Museum, from Oldtown Scottsdale to the Pioneer Living History Museum.

Each of the photos is one that I like. The sequence of photos does not necessarily tell a coherent story (the way other posts do). Each one just highlights something interesting about our experience.

Lobby of the Phoenix Biltmore Hotel

The Biltmore Hotel opened in 1929. It was designed by the architect Albert Chase McArthur who had studied with Frank Lloyd Wright in Chicago 1907 to 1909.

Irving Berlin wrote "White Christmas" while sitting at the pool in the Biltmore Hotel.

The Biltmore reflects many features of the Frank Lloyd Wright style.

The Biltmore has been visited by many celebrities and most of the Presidents since 1929.

Marilyn Monroe said the Biltmore was her favourite spot.

The displays at the Phoenix Musical Instrument Museum feature costume, dance, and music from every country of the world.

We were simply amazed at the quality of the displays at the Musical Instrument Museum.

We decided that this is one of the finest museums we have ever visited anywhere.

My father played instruments like these two in the 1920's and 1930's (in Canada).

One of my heroes, Adolphe Sax, is well celebrated at the Musical Instrument Museum.

This view of downtown Phoenix and the "Sun Valley" in which it lies was taken from South Mountain Park, reportedly the largest municipal park in the world..

Saguaro cactus line the winding road up to the top of South Mountain.

The city of Phoenix has expanded laterally outward since it was founded on the Gila River in 1861. Greater Phoenix now has a population over 4.2 million. 

We visited the very interesting Pioneer Living History Museum on the northern edge of Phoenix.

The Pioneer Museum recreates the life of Arizonans in the 1890's.

Mining was a very important part of Arizona's history. These views reminded us of many of the old Western movies we saw in our youth.

This was an Opera House in pioneer times.

The Civic Centre in Oldtown Scottsdale boasts a beautiful Library and Gardens.

The large quill hanging outside the Library was magnificent.

Chaplain Winfield Scott and his wife are portrayed in this sculpture in the Civic Centre. Scott and his brother are celebrated as founders of Scottsdale, although the site had been occupied by the Hohokam Indians since 600 A.D.

The Mission is located centrally in Oldtown Scottsdale. We particularly enjoyed the restaurant next door.

We stayed at the home of friends in Sun City West, at the north west corner of the Greater Phoenix area. We enjoyed the friends, the house, and the area.

Gardens in the desert are often beautiful.

One of our favourite visits was to Taliesin West, winter residence of Frank Lloyd Wright from 1937 to 1959.

We also sat in Mr. Wright's studio where he is portrayed here.

Mr. Wright was interested in the hieroglyphics left on the rocks by previous cultures. One of them became embedded in his style.

Mr. Wright not only taught his students here, he had them do the construction of the buildings.

We drove north west to the town of Wickenburg where we visited the  Desert Caballeros Western Museum. They wouldn't let me take any pictures inside, but I did capture this one on the front steps. It is a Diamondback Rattlesnake.