Scotttsdale Arizona

Old Town Scottsdale AZ

Beautiful Scottsdale Arizona

Scottsdale Arizona is one of those Southwest destinations places that is surrounded by the beauty of the Sonoran Desert. Scottsdale, a town with well over one hundred art galleries, a large variety of craft shops and a wide selection of restaurants is one of the most popular of all Arizona vacation destinations. Many people today travel to Scottsdale to take advantage of it's many championship golf courses. Others travel there to take advantage of it's very mild winter weather along with the unique shopping opportunities found there.

Scottsdale and Chaplain Winfield Scott

It's believed that the area of Scottsdale Arizona was at one time occupied by the Hohokam tribe at around 1 A.D. At about the year 1500, the Hohokam, who had constructed canals and were an agrarian society, abandoned the area. It's believed that drought and perhaps internal conflicts caused the abandonment.

Scottsdale, officially incorporated in 1951, is named after Chaplain Winfield Scott, a retired veteran of the American Civil War. Chaplain Scott served as a pastor in Leavenworth Kansas from 1865 to 1872 when he moved to a pastor's position in Denver Colorado. Eventually Scott became an army chaplain at several outposts and retired while posted in Arizona in 1888.

Bischoff's At The Park Gallery

Scott bought farmland at this arid location north of Tempe in the year 1889. Scott did well in promoting the fertile land which he successfully produced fruit from and by the year 1896 there were enough families in the area that a school system was established. Many of the settlement's original settlers recruited by Scott from the East and Midwest were educated and fostered cultural activities. The towns people also did a great deal during the early 1900's in supporting artists and writers. Ranching also took hold in the area especially after 1916 when a local businessman began ranching on some 44,000 acres north of the town site. This ranch, the DC Ranch operated continually through the 1950's.

Winfield Scott was one of the Salt River Valley's most successful growers and shippers. The location was favorable for fruit growers because of it's irrigated desert location and mild climate. Scottsdale has always been dependent on ground water for it's overall water supply. Today, Scottsdale meets its water demands primarily with surface water.

Scottsdale Historical Museum

The Scottsdale Boom

In 1947, Scottsdale established their Chamber of Commerce for the goal of attracting tourism and to enhance it's identity to the Old West. The Scottsdale Chamber adopted the slogan " West's Most Western Town".

Most point to the 1970's as the start of the real boom years for Scottsdale. As an example, in 1960 Scottsdale had about 10,000 residents. Ten years later in 1970, Scottsdale boasted some 67,000 people. By 1970 the town also increased it's land size by twelve times it's original. An interesting fact is that in 1970 Scottsdale also had about 7,000 horses which by law had the right of way over motorized vehicles. Scottsdale Arizona is bordered by Phoenix to the west and the McDowell Mountains on the east.


Old Town Scottsdale

Today, the popular commercial district is named Old Town Scottsdale, a very unique business area with palm trees and flower beds. Old Town Scottsdale is located on the original town site of Scottsdale at the southeast corner of Scottsdale and Indian School Roads. A walk through Old Town takes you back to the western days when the town was established more than 100 years ago.

Blacksmith Shop, Old Scottsdale

The story of the blacksmiths shop you'll see today at the southern end of Old Town was that it was originally approved  to only be built on the edge of town by the town fathers who didn't relish it in the middle of town. This was not a requirement in most any other western town.

Links to two additional Western Trips photo articles about Arizona attractions are a Visit to Prescott Arizona and Downtown Flagstaff.


Sites to See in Old Town Scottsdale

Old Town Scottsdale offers many good restaurants, nightclubs, bars, hotels, stores, activities, and of course, people watching.  There's plenty of art galleries and if you're looking for a unique piece of southwest jewelry you'll find it in one of Scottsdale's unique shops.According to the city's web site Scottsdale’s vibrant downtown is considered the finest urban center in Arizona. It is home to more than 90 restaurants, 320 retail shops and more than 80 art galleries.

Among the sites to add to your Scottsdale Arizona vacation planner is the Scottsdale Historical Museum located at 7333 E Scottsdale Mall in the center of Old Town. The museum is housed in a 1909 grammar school building. Permanent exhibits in the museum is the Winfield Scott Exhibit, the One Room Schoolhouse, an antique barber chair, a tent kitchen display and many more items from Scottsdale's past.

Carriage rides in Old Town Scottsdale

The Old Adobe Mission Church. The church is located at 7655 East Main Street near the south end of Old Town. The Old Adobe Mission, established originally as Our Lady of Perpetual Help Church, celebrated it's first mass in 1933. This was the first Catholic church in Scottsdale. The church became a parish in 1948.

Taliesin West.  This was architect Frank Lloyd Wright's winter home and studio. The home is on 550 acres at the foothills of the McDowell Mountains. See the gardens, terraces and walkways which connect the buildings. The site is located at 114th St. and Cactus Road.

Scottsdale Civic Center and Mall. See sculptures and fountains and a pond among landscaped lawns. On the mall is the Scottsdale Center for the Performing Arts. The mall location is at Drinkwater Blvd and 2nd Street.

For those desiring to take a walking tour of Scottsdale, walking tour guide maps are available at the Scottsdale Chamber of Commerce.

Scottsdale’s McDowell Sonoran Preserve which is located on the northern border of the city is the largest urban wilderness area in the United States and offers more than 60 miles of trails through the scenic desert terrain.

If your Arizona vacation plans happen to take you to the Phoenix area you will want to add Scottsdale to your trip planner. Scottsdale is a terrific place to visit, perhaps take a carriage ride, and snap plenty of good photos.


(Photos are from author's private collection)