Every major city has unique landmarks that set it apart from every other city. San Francisco has the Golden Gate Bridge, Los Angeles has the Hollywood sign, and New York City has the Statue of Liberty. Phoenix, Arizona, is certainly no exception, and while it might not have any international landmarks, it certainly has its fair share of downtown landmarks.
Westward Ho
Westward Ho is an old hotel built back in 1928, and it’s an example of the Renaissance Revival style that was popular at the time. Back when it was new, the Westward Ho hotel was the tallest building in Arizona. When it was no longer the tallest building, owners reclaimed the title by constructing a massive radio tower on the roof. These days, the hotel offers subsidized housing for seniors and people with disabilities, and its owner is the Arizona State University. The building sits at the corner of West Fillmore Street and North Central Avenue — just look for the Westward Ho sign.
The Japanese Friendship Garden
The Japanese Friendship Garden of Phoenix is a relatively new addition to the city’s downtown area. In 1976, Phoenix became a sister city to Himeji, located near Osaka in the southern part of Japan. The idea for the garden began not long after, but it wasn’t until 2002 that this section of the Margaret T. Hance Park opened to the public as a Japanese tea garden. The garden features plenty of green plants with Japanese transplants, a gurgling stream that feeds a large pond, and an old-fashioned Japanese tea house that regularly hosts authentic tea ceremonies.
Tovrea Castle
Head east of downtown Phoenix along Van Buren Street or take the Red Mountain Freeway and you won’t have any trouble spotting Tovrea Castle at Carraro Heights. This building is another product of the 1920s, although its architect was less of a trend follower. Alessio Carraro created the birthday-cake castle and the desert gardens surrounding it to be a tourist attraction, although he had to sell the property in 1931 thanks to the great depression. Still, you can see the castle for yourself if you sign up for a guided tour.
Camelback Mountain
Phoenix sits at the foot of a mountain range and you don’t need a particularly good view to see them rising up around central Phoenix. In fact, the city and its suburbs have completely surrounded a few of these mountains, including one called the Camelback Mountain thanks to its two humps. People climb these urban mountains all the time, but if you’re not in the mood for an uphill hike you can also admire the mountain from the downtown streets or an air-conditioned hotel room.
Phoenix landmarks tell a story about how the city has grown and developed over the years. They start with the mountains and deserts that were here before any human ever set foot in Arizona, and they include both old and new buildings that appeared during the city’s boom years. These unique landmarks make Phoenix a great place to explore.
“Westward Ho Building Tower Top” via Flickr by cogdogblog. Used with permission via CC0 1.0 / cropped from original
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