Phoenix History and Culture

The city of phoenix has its history dating back to the year 1867, when Jack Swilling, an American Civil War veteran, discovered the region adjacent to the Salt River Valley, where the city later expanded and flourished. Within a year, a small colony was established four miles to the east of the present city, and it was in the same year that Phoenix was officially recognized by the Yavapai County Board of Supervisors.

The first town of Phoenix came about in the year 1870. It contained 96 blocks and was half a mile wide along with being a whole mile long. In fact, Washington Street was the main street here. By the year 1875, the region was fast becoming a well developed city, with four dance halls, two monte banks and sixteen saloons to its credit!

At this stage, it also had a townsite-commissioner form of government that soon deteriorated and gave way to a new form of government-one which provided four council members and a mayor. By 1881, the first elections were held and the city's population grew to about 2,500 people.

On February 14th, 1912, Phoenix became the capital of the newly formed state of Arizona under President William Howard Taft. Over 100,000 people lived in Phoenix by the year 1950. Ever since, Phoenix has maintained its steady growth, its population increasing considerably each year. In fact, with the Phoenix history and culture, it is today one of the fastest growing metropolitan areas in America.

However, the Phoenix history and culture can only really be experienced when visiting the many museums, musicals and the flourishing art and cultural scene. Greater Phoenix itself offers innumerable museums that offer a taste of the Phoenix history and culture, namely

1)The Phoenix Art Museum
2)The Museum of History
3)The Heard Museum
4)The Pioneer Arizona Living History Museum
5)The Beads Museum (this particular museum has a fantastic collection of over 100,000 items!)

Apart from the many museums, there are other Phoenix AZ travel destinations that give a glimpse of the Phoenix history and culture, like the performing arts centers. The Arizona Opera and Phoenix Symphony is one such performing arts center, and dance productions are well received at Ballet Arizona.

Phoenix certainly does have a lot to it when it comes to its history and culture, and is truly worth the visit when interested in the arts and cultural scene. And when making your next Phoenix tour, make sure you check this kind of Phoenix travel information.