See what these 13 beloved metro Phoenix landmarks used to look like

That principle is visible everywhere you look, whether it's the expansion at Phoenix Sky Harbor International Airport, the development of Tempe Town Lake or the growth of Arizona State University's Tempe campus.

The Arizona Republic's extensive photo archives highlight the humble beginnings of metro Phoenix and document the incredible growth and change that have occurred since then.

So step back in time for a few moments and see your favorite landmarks, including Tovrea Castle, Papago Park and the Phoenix Zoo, as they looked 100 years ago.

Phoenix Sky Harbor International Airport

J. Parker Van Zandt came to Phoenix in 1928 looking for a place to locate his airline company. He purchased 278 acres of cotton fields east of 24th Street and south of the Southern Pacific railroad tracks for a landing field.

Phoenix as seen from the air in July 1981.

Since then, Phoenix Sky Harbor has evolved from farmland into a massive 3,400-acre concrete jungle that welcomes more than 52 million passengers a year.

Tovrea Castle

Tovrea Castle is a building that hardly goes unnoticed when you drive by. You may be intrigued by its shape, its colorful lights at night or its antique-looking architecture.

Businessman Alessio Carraro originally planned for the iconic building to be a resort when it was built in 1929. However, the stock market crash ruined those plans and forced its sale to wealthy cattle rancher Edward Ambrose Tovrea and his wife, Della.

Chase Field

Since then, the stadium has witnessed history when the team won the World Series in 2001 in a ninth-inning comeback after Luis Gonzalez hit a walk-off single.

Desert Botanical Garden

The Desert Botanical Garden started in the 1930s after a passionate group of Arizonans who were concerned about the rapid urbanization of the Valley and the general underappreciation of desert plant life.

Today, the 140-acre park boasts more than 50,000 plants in its collection and sees more than 634,000 visitors walk its paths each year — a true testament to the cultivated love of desert plants.

Papago Park

The Phoenix park has a long history dating back to the Hohokam, who viewed the area as sacred. As the area was settled, Papago Park was mostly vacant. During WWII, the area was heavily used for military purposes, including a military base and German prisoner of war camp.

Over the years, the Desert Botanical Garden and Phoenix Zoo opened in the park. Now, it is a popular recreation spot for Phoenicians.

Phoenix Zoo

The Phoenix Zoo opened in November 1962. The zoo was originally called the Maytag Zoo after Robert E. Maytag, who first had the idea to bring a zoo to Phoenix, according to the zoo's website.

Over the years, millions of Arizonans and tourists have trooped through the zoo's gates to learn more about the animals of the world.

Tempe Town Lake

Long before Tempe Town Lake was a lake, it was an uncontrolled river that frequently floodedand washed out bridges. As water was diverted and the river dammed, the river slowly dried up.

In 1999, after years of discussion, debate and planning, water began flowing into Tempe Town Lake as we now know it. The area is a well-loved recreation spot for many in the Valley.

Arizona State University in Tempe

Nearly 80,000 students attended classes at Arizona State University campuses in fall 2024 and more than half of those were at the school's Tempe campus.

The Territorial Normal School opened in 1885 as a place to train teachers and learn about agriculture and mechanics. The school wasn't renamed Arizona State University until 1958.

Frank Lloyd Wright's Taliesin West in Scottsdale

Taliesin West in Scottsdale's McDowell Mountains foothills came from the mind of Frank Lloyd Wright, among the most significant architects of the 20th century. His winter home and tribute to the desert, the house was hand-built by his students.

Today, the house is a World Heritage site that is open for tours that highlight Wright's vision and legacy.

Phoenix Art Museum

The seeds of the Phoenix Art Museum were planted in 1915 when the Phoenix Women's Club began purchasing art. This collection was the basis for the Phoenix Municipal Collection which in turn became the Phoenix Art Museum's collection.

More than 60 years later, the museum's collection has grown to nearly 2,500 objects, making it the largest art museum in the southwest.

Mystery Castle in Phoenix

Situated in the foothills of South Mountain Park and Preserve is the famous Mystery Castle. The structure, built in the 1930s by Boyce Luther Gulley, is made of an odd assortment of building materials, including recycled car parts, telephone poles, plow discs, tiles, stones, bricks and metals. 

Gulley, who battled tuberculosis, moved to Arizona and left his family behind, spent the next several years building the Mystery Castle for his daughter Mary Lou. It wasn’t until Gulley died in 1945, however, that his wife, Frances Bradford Gulley, and Mary Lou found out about the castle. They eventually moved in and called it home. 

Hotel Valley Ho in Scottsdale

The Hotel Valley Ho opened in 1956 as the sister property of the Westward Ho in downtown Phoenix. Over the years, it welcomed many celebrities, VIPs and ordinary travelers.

Today, its unique mid-century modern architecture with a uniquely southwestern flair stands the test of time and continues to make it a popular landmark.

Arizona Biltmore in Phoenix

For nearly 100 years, the Arizona Biltmore has opened its doors to host Phoenix families, a string of presidents and icons of the big screen.

The storied resort debuted in 1929 with opening ceremonies that spanned three days. Following repeated renovations and a rotation of owners in the decades since, the resort complex near Missouri Avenue and 24th Street retains its ranking as a top hotel in the nation.

Laura Daniella Sepulveda Marcus Reichley