On a bed of a primordial ocean floor and in a valley surrounded by jagged mountains, a city was founded atop the ruins of a vanished civilization. In 1867, former Confederate soldier Jack Swilling saw the remains of an ancient canal system and the potential for the area to blossom into a thriving agricultural center. Pioneers moved into the settlement searching for new opportunities, and on October 20, 1870, residents living in adobe structures that lined dirt streets adopted the name Phoenix, expressing the optimism of the frontier. For decades, downtown Phoenix was a dense urban core, the hub of agricultural fields, mining settlements, and military posts. Unfortunately, suburban sprawl and other social factors of the postWorld War II era led to the centers decline. With time, things changed, and now downtown Phoenix is uniquely positioned to rise again as a prominent 21st-century American city.

Lord Darrell Duppa, along with his friend Jack Swilling, suggested the name Phoenix for the city he had cofounded because it described a city born from the ruins of a former civilization. Settled on the ancestral lands of the Hohokam Indians, Phoenix was thriving by the early 1920s when craftsmanship and attention to detail were the orders of the day. Buildings were designed to welcome residents and travelers alike. Today the Fox Theater, the Clark Churchill House, the Kon Tiki Hotel, and the Fleming Building exist only in photographs and in the memories of Phoenix residents. The National Register of Historic Places and the Phoenix Historic Property Register have heightened public awareness and appreciation for the communitys historic landmarks, but much has been lost already. Remembering these buildings and landmarks is essential to understanding this remarkable city.

Vacation Goose Travel Guide Phoenix Arizona, USA is an easy to use small pocket book filled with all you need for your stay in the big city. Top 50 city attractions, top 50 nightlife adventures, top 50 city restaurants, top 47 shopping centers, top 50 hotels, and more than a dozen monthly weather statistics. This travel guide is up to date with the latest developments of the city as of 2017. We hope you let this pocket book be part of yet another fun Phoenix adventure :)