Scottsdale’s Hidden History – Old Town Scottsdale

Downtown Scottsdale is overflowing with history…if you know where to find it. Now, with the help of new posters displayed in kiosks aroundtown, visitors and residents will be able to uncover fascinating bits of the town’s history.

It’s part of a trend that includes helping visitors find more than just sunshine and Western style. Scottsdale is marketing the city as a Western destination with a unique past.

In a recent article in the Tribune, Laura McMurchie of the Scottsdale Convention and Visitors Bureau said, “There are resorts and interesting shopping areas everywhere in the world, but history really grounds Scottsdale’s offering as being particularly unique.”

Walking brochures can be found in Old Town at the entrance to Civic Center Mall along with helpful and interesting tales courtesy of people like John Dant, a retiree volunteer at the visitor cart. With John’s help and knowledge of Scottsdale, one recent visitor enjoyed lunch with history at Los Olivos Mexican Patio, a restaurant that has been in Scottsdale for more than 50 years.

A sampling of historic spots on the walking tour includes:

• The “Little Red Schoolhouse:” Now the home of the Scottsdale Historical Museum, this former schoolhouse was built in 1909 with two classrooms for grades one through eight.
• Bischoff’s Shades of the West: This store stands on the site of Scottsdale’s first general store and post office, built in 1897.Rusty Spur Saloon: Ironic for a town that once prohibited alcohol, the saloon now stands where the Farmer’s State Bank of Scottsdale opened in 1921.
• Cavalliere’s Blacksmith Shop: George Cavalliere, a blacksmith, brought his family to Scottsdale around 1910. Told that he couldn’t build his shop in town, Cavalliere obeyed and moved two blocks down, outside of town boundaries.
• Old Olive Trees: Down the center of Second Street, several old olive trees exist that are as old as Scottsdale itself. They were planted in 1896 by Chaplain Winfield Scott, the founder of Scottsdale, to enclose an orange grove. The orange trees died in a drought in the late 1890s, but the olive trees survive as a symbol of Scottsdale’s beginnings.

Cultural tourism is a growing trend, and more people these days are interested in the art, architecture, and history of the places they visit. With its combination of Hispanic, Native American, and cowboy history, Scottsdale offers cultural riches for residents and visitors alike.