Phoenix Past and Present

Phoenix Past and Present

Paul Scharbach and Robert Melikian

Through an expansive collection of historical photographs spanning the 1890’s to the early 1960’s – many never before seen – Phoenix Past and Present offers a unique glimpse back to a time when city streets were unpaved, the tallest skyscraper reached 7 stories, and 16th Street and Camelback Road was a rural area outside the city limits. The authors conducted extensive research, standing in the shoes of photographers from 100 summers ago to see what they saw, contrasting with newer images photographed from the same vantage point today. From the earliest adobe structures to opulent Victorian mansions and the city’s modern commercial buildings, you’ll marvel at Phoenix’s dynamic expansion and growth in the 20th century and learn how early immigrants and business leaders sowed the seeds for Phoenix to evolve into what it is today, a great American city of the 21st century.