Phoenix THEN and NOW – Old Arizona Photos Past and Present
The History Stop - Short History Documentaries
46,529 views
This video takes a clear look at how Phoenix, Arizona has changed over time by comparing old photos to the same places today. In the early 1900s, streets like Washington and 1st were dusty and filled with horse carts and small brick shops. Today, those same areas are paved and lined with tall buildings. Many older landmarks, like the Gold Hotel and Adams Hotel, are gone and replaced by modern spaces like the Phoenix Convention Center and newer hotels. Downtown streets that once had small shops and theaters, especially along Central Avenue, have been rebuilt with office towers and larger buildings.
Several popular places from the past have also disappeared. The Rialto Theater, once busy with moviegoers, was torn down and replaced by a mall. Old hotels, motels, and small businesses across the city have been replaced by parking garages, office buildings, or empty lots. Even car dealerships and gas stations from the mid-1900s have made way for new commercial spaces. These changes show how fast the city has grown and modernized.
At the same time, a few historic buildings have survived. The Arizona State Capitol still stands, along with the Hotel San Carlos and the Westward Ho building, though some now serve new purposes. The Phoenix Art Museum remains in its original location but has been updated over time. Some older spots, like the Circle K Motor Hotel, still exist but show their age.
The video also highlights nearby areas like Tempe, Mesa, and Scottsdale. Many of these places have followed a similar path, with older storefronts and landmarks replaced or updated. Overall, the video shows how Phoenix has transformed from a small desert town into a large, modern city while still holding on to a few pieces of its past.
00:00 Intro
00:09 Washington and First
00:29 The Gold Hotel
00:48 Washington and Second
01:08 Adams and Central
01:28 Washington and Central
01:48 Seventh and Van Buren
02:08 First Baptist Church
02:28 Patrick Hotel
02:48 Rialto Theater
03:08 Arizona State Capitol
03:28 North Central Avenue
03:48 Central Avenue & West Holly Street
04:08 North Central Avenue & Van Buren
04:28 Bob Drewer Ford
04:48 Vinton Manor Apartment Hotel
05:08 Phoenix Art Museum
05:28 Labor Day Dust Storm
05:48 Western Ho
06:09 Circle K Motor Hotel
06:28 Park Lane Motor Court
06:49 Lone Star Motel
07:08 Cottage Court
07:28 Edward Oldsmobile
07:48 Chevron Gas Station
08:09 Casa Loma Building
08:29 State University Auditorium
08:49 Mesa's Main Street
09:08 Mesa Arizona Temple
09:28 Main Street in Scottsdale
09:48 Brown Avenue in Scottsdale
10:08 Valley Ho Hotel
10:28 American Heritage Wax Museum
10:48 Outro
CITATIONS:
BY-NC 2.0, https://flickr.com/photos/roadsidepic...
BY 2.0, https://flickr.com/photos/autohistori...
BY 2.0, https://flickr.com/photos/boston_publ...
CC BY 2.0, https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/Fi...
CC BY 2.0, https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/Fi...
BY-NC-ND 2.0, https://flickr.com/photos/sherlock77/...
BY-NC-ND 2.0, https://flickr.com/photos/sherlock77/...
CC BY-SA 2.0, https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/Fi...
BY-NC-ND 2.0, https://flickr.com/photos/upnorthmemo...
BY 2.0, https://flickr.com/photos/boston_publ...
BY 2.0, https://flickr.com/photos/autohistori...
BY-NC 2.0, https://flickr.com/photos/thomashawk/...
CC BY 2.0, https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/Fi...
#arizona #phoenix #history #thenandnow #pastandpresent #oldphotos #historical #documentary
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20 Comments
is a great city to see the past to present, thank you.🙏
One photo made me chuckle, the old wax museum, when I was a kid my family took my visiting grandmother there, they had a wax figure of a woman sitting at an information desk, my grandmother couldn’t figure out why the figure wouldn’t answer her questions. 😄
Thanks for the walk down memory lane!
Phoenix THEN and NOW – Old Arizona Photos Past and Present
The History Stop - Short History Documentaries
46,529 views
This video takes a clear look at how Phoenix, Arizona has changed over time by comparing old photos to the same places today. In the early 1900s, streets like Washington and 1st were dusty and filled with horse carts and small brick shops. Today, those same areas are paved and lined with tall buildings. Many older landmarks, like the Gold Hotel and Adams Hotel, are gone and replaced by modern spaces like the Phoenix Convention Center and newer hotels. Downtown streets that once had small shops and theaters, especially along Central Avenue, have been rebuilt with office towers and larger buildings.
Several popular places from the past have also disappeared. The Rialto Theater, once busy with moviegoers, was torn down and replaced by a mall. Old hotels, motels, and small businesses across the city have been replaced by parking garages, office buildings, or empty lots. Even car dealerships and gas stations from the mid-1900s have made way for new commercial spaces. These changes show how fast the city has grown and modernized.
At the same time, a few historic buildings have survived. The Arizona State Capitol still stands, along with the Hotel San Carlos and the Westward Ho building, though some now serve new purposes. The Phoenix Art Museum remains in its original location but has been updated over time. Some older spots, like the Circle K Motor Hotel, still exist but show their age.
The video also highlights nearby areas like Tempe, Mesa, and Scottsdale. Many of these places have followed a similar path, with older storefronts and landmarks replaced or updated. Overall, the video shows how Phoenix has transformed from a small desert town into a large, modern city while still holding on to a few pieces of its past.
00:00 Intro
00:09 Washington and First
00:29 The Gold Hotel
00:48 Washington and Second
01:08 Adams and Central
01:28 Washington and Central
01:48 Seventh and Van Buren
02:08 First Baptist Church
02:28 Patrick Hotel
02:48 Rialto Theater
03:08 Arizona State Capitol
03:28 North Central Avenue
03:48 Central Avenue & West Holly Street
04:08 North Central Avenue & Van Buren
04:28 Bob Drewer Ford
04:48 Vinton Manor Apartment Hotel
05:08 Phoenix Art Museum
05:28 Labor Day Dust Storm
05:48 Western Ho
06:09 Circle K Motor Hotel
06:28 Park Lane Motor Court
06:49 Lone Star Motel
07:08 Cottage Court
07:28 Edward Oldsmobile
07:48 Chevron Gas Station
08:09 Casa Loma Building
08:29 State University Auditorium
08:49 Mesa's Main Street
09:08 Mesa Arizona Temple
09:28 Main Street in Scottsdale
09:48 Brown Avenue in Scottsdale
10:08 Valley Ho Hotel
10:28 American Heritage Wax Museum
10:48 Outro
CITATIONS:
BY-NC 2.0, https://flickr.com/photos/roadsidepic...
BY 2.0, https://flickr.com/photos/autohistori...
BY 2.0, https://flickr.com/photos/boston_publ...
CC BY 2.0, https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/Fi...
CC BY 2.0, https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/Fi...
BY-NC-ND 2.0, https://flickr.com/photos/sherlock77/...
BY-NC-ND 2.0, https://flickr.com/photos/sherlock77/...
CC BY-SA 2.0, https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/Fi...
BY-NC-ND 2.0, https://flickr.com/photos/upnorthmemo...
BY 2.0, https://flickr.com/photos/boston_publ...
BY 2.0, https://flickr.com/photos/autohistori...
BY-NC 2.0, https://flickr.com/photos/thomashawk/...
CC BY 2.0, https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/Fi...
#arizona #phoenix #history #thenandnow #pastandpresent #oldphotos #historical #documentary