There once were dozens of historic (pre-war) mansions in Phoenix along North Central Avenue and areas within 7th Ave & 7th St. Many are long since demolished, but there are some that still exist. Some have found new uses and others remain in tact but can be hard to see, hiding behind the trees in the posh and lush neighborhoods along the North Central Ave Murphy Bridle Path.
“Mansions” is a relative term, of course, as in many cities, especially back east; a historic mansion might mean a 25,000ft2+ true mansion. These are Phoenix’s historic mansions – pre-war (sometimes pre-WWI), custom, and large. None are larger than 10,000 ft2, but some of them tend to be larger than many of the typical historic houses you can find throughout Phoenix’s established historic neighborhoods, and I tried to find the biggest ones.
This isn’t an exhaustive list, as there are more in hiding, but they are pretty rare in a younger city like Phoenix. Anyway, here are some pictures of mansions in North Central Phoenix (generally between 7th Ave and 7th St, north of I-10).
Sorry for the point and shoot quality and the afternoon sun. In some cases these houses are completely obscured by vegetation, so it was hard to get some of these pictures.
Ellis-Shackleford House, Central/Culver. 1917. 6,600ft2
Old Spaghetti Factory Central/Lynwood. Date and size unknown, two houses together
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Heard Mansion (Heard Museum) Central/Monte Vista. One portion of the old giant Heard Mansion and estate still exists as part of the Heard Museum (famous Native American museum).
Central/3rd St/Monte Vista. 1922. 5,700ft2
3rd St./Palm. 1910. 5,500ft2
3rd st./Alvarado. 1931. 4,900 ft2
Central/Bethany Home. 1929. 3,900ft2
Central/Rose. 1922. 4,800ft2
Central/Rose. 1929. 3,500ft2
Central/McLellan. 1914. 5,600ft2
Central/McLellan. 1935. 8,100ft2 large adobe/southwest style
John M. Ross House. Central/Lamar. 1926. 7,130ft2
Central/Glendale Rd. 1910. 5,980 ft2
Central/Glendale Rd. 1909. 6,000 ft2
Central/Glenn. 1924. 3,500 ft2
Central/State/Northview. 1900(?). unknown size
Central/Orangewood. 1895(?). Big Victorian.
Asbury-Salmon House. Central/Hayward. 1934. 3,900 ft2
Central/Northern. 1927. 4,400 ft2
3rd Pl/Northern. 1927. 6,500 ft2
7th Ave/Kaler. 1928. 4,300 ft2