Vanishing Phoenix

Lord Darrell Duppa, along with his friend Jack Swilling, suggested the name “Phoenix” for the city he had cofounded because it described a city born from the ruins of a former civilization. Settled on the ancestral lands of the Hohokam Indians, Phoenix was thriving by the early 1920s when craftsmanship and attention to detail were the orders of the day. Buildings were designed to welcome residents and travelers alike. Today the Fox Theater, the Clark Churchill House, the Kon Tiki Hotel, and the Fleming Building exist only in photographs and in the memories of Phoenix residents. The National Register of Historic Places and the Phoenix Historic Property Register have heightened public awareness and appreciation for the community’s historic landmarks, but much has been lost already. Remembering these buildings and landmarks is essential to understanding this remarkable city.