Learn about 8 of the oldest buildings in Arizona
Learn about eight of the oldest buildings in Arizona, from long-abandoned factories to a historic hotel.
Old buildings are a reminder that the past is very much the present. Some of these—like the Hayden Flour Mill in downtown Tempe—stand tall and are a rich part of the city’s skylines even though they’re abandoned. While others—like Flagstaff’s Weatherford Hotel—are still being used today for their original intended purpose. Take a closer look at these historic structures, learn more about their rich histories, and what you can expect if you visit today.
Please keep in mind that some of these buildings are vacant and not safe to explore outside of looking at the exterior.
1. Sugar Beet Factory
5202 W. Lamar Road in Glendale
The five-story Sugar Beet Factory building in Glendale has stood vacant for decades. It originally opened in 1906 as a, you guessed it, sugar beet factory, according to the Arizona Republic. This abandoned building was actually the Squirt soda factory from the 1930s to the 1980s. Today, this brick building is fenced off, and the windows are boarded up. Back in 2011, there were plans to turn this building into a distillery. But those plans never materialized. Today, the building stands tall as a reminder of the past. Curious for more? Watch a YouTube video that gives a tour of the factory.
2. Hayden Flour Mill & Silos
119 S. Mill Avenue in downtown Tempe
The Hayden Flour Mill is one of downtown Tempe’s most striking sites. Its white silos always stick out on Mill Avenue. This landmark is the “oldest cast-in-place, reinforced building in Tempe,” according to Tempe’s official website. This technology was developed as a response to San Francisco’s devastating 1906 earthquake. The mill started operating in 1918 and closed in 1998, making the Hayden Flour Mill the longest-used industrial site in the Salt River Valley.
The building has been unoccupied since 1998. In 2002, a massive fire that took 100 firefighters to extinguish. In 2011, a few spaces around the Mill were restored, according to the Rio Salado Foundation. Improvements included adding a great lawn and stage area. Pieces of equipment inside of the mill were also placed by windows and lit so the public could view them. Trees were planted in front of the building, and some graffiti was removed. In 2018, the silos and the mill were designated in the Tempe Historic Property Register
Of note: The Hayden Flour Mill building is not to be confused with the Hayden Flour Mill company. This was started in 2009 and is dedicated to the preservation and production of heritage grains. Learn more about this local business here.
3. The Luhrs Building
11 West Jefferson Street, Suite 100, Phoenix
The Luhrs Building stands tall in lively downtown Phoenix and is only a few blocks from the home of the Phoenix Suns, the Footprint Center. This iconic structure celebrated its 100th anniversary in 2024. The building was the very first 10-story building in Phoenix when it opened on April 1, 1924. The Arizona Club and U.S. Treasury Department once called this building home. For decades, the Luhrs Tower was the tallest building in all of the Southwest. Read even more about this building’s history here.
Today, this building is home to hot spots like Bitter & Twisted Cocktail Parlour and hotels like the Moxy Phoenix Downtown, which opened at the very end of 2023. The Moxy kept historical details intact. Specifically, the hotel preserved a marble stairwell, an original mail chute that goes from the top floors into the elevator bay, large bay windows in the lobby, and balcony doors and windows on the top floor of the hotel.
4. The Abbey Phoenix
302 W. Monroe Street in downtown Phoenix
Located in downtown Phoenix, The Abbey Phoenix was constructed in 1929 as the First Baptist Church. In 1968, the church relocated. In 1982, the church was added to the National Register of Historic Places. A fire swept through the place in 1984 and left it as it stands today—roofless but not useless. The City of Phoenix has gone to great lengths to preserve this structure. It was slated for demolition in 1992, but in 1993, the Housing Opportunity Center purchased the building.
Today, the building is used largely as an events space by Walter Productions and has become somewhat iconic. Local rock band Jimmy Eat World played a livestream at the space in 2021. Watch the performance in its entirety on YouTube.
5. The Marist College
111 S. Church Avenue in downtown Tucson
Not to be confused with the university based in New York, The Marist College in Tucson is an example of a blend of Italian Renaissance and Spanish Colonial Revival architectural influences. The building was erected in 1915. Marist College was a boys school and accepted boarding and day students from elementary to high school sophomores. The building was a school until the late 1960s. In 1968, the building was converted into offices for the Diocese.
In 2002, the building was vacated due to structural issues. In 2007, Marist College was listed on Arizona’s Most Endangered Places. In 2011, it was listed on the National Register of Historic Places. In 2017, restoration work began. Two years later, the building was reopened with a good purpose. Read more about the history of the building here. In 2019, FSL—an organization dedicated to constructing affordable homes—repurposed the building and turned it into affordable housing for senior citizens. The seven-story building is home to eight one and two-bedroom apartments for those who are 62 or older.
6. The Weatherford Hotel
23 N. Leroux Street in downtown Flagstaff
Downtown Flagstaff’s Weatherford Hotel opened to the public in 1900. Any building that’s been around for that long will have seen some history. During its long history, the 17-room hotel has been a rehabilitation center and a hostel. Noted Western author Zane Grey was a frequent guest.
Today, the Weatherford still serves guests like it did at the turn of the century. Rooms are decorated with antique furniture to capture the historical charm of the place. The hotel is perhaps best known for its New Year’s Eve Pine Cone Drop. This tradition kicked off in 1999 and continues to this day.
7. San Xavier del Bac Mission
1950 W. San Xavier Road in Tucson
One of Tucson’s most noteworthy sites is also one of its oldest. This church was founded as a Catholic mission in 1962. Construction was finished in 1797. According to its website, this is the oldest intact European structure in the Grand Canyon state. Inside, visitors can find original statues and mural paintings if they’re looking to experience the building’s rich history. Admission is free. The Mission claims that 200,000 people visit annually to see what some consider to be the finest example of Spanish Colonial architecture in the United States. The building was built with low-fire clay brick, stone, and lime mortar. The historic structure is also roofed with masonry vaults—a unique feature for a Spanish Colonial building.
San Xavier del Bac Mission is still a working Catholic church and nonprofit. You can make tax-deductible donations that help maintain this historic structure.
8. Cordova House
175 N. Meyer Avenue
La Casa Cordova may just be the oldest adobe structure in downtown Tucson. The lot was purchased back in 1879 for $100. This home is named after the last family to have resided there. The family was led by Maria Navarette Cordova, who acquired the property in 1934. Cordova House is now part of the Tucson Museum of Art.
Inside the home is what claims to be the longest-running nativity scene in the Southwest. It was built in the 1970s by Maria Luisa Tena. The home was reopened to the public on Nov. 10, 2024. Viewing the exterior is free, but if you’d like to step inside, you’ll have to pay museum admission fees.
Our stories may be republished online or in print under Creative Commons license CC BY-NC-ND 4.0. We ask that you edit only for style or to shorten, provide proper attribution and link to our web site. Please see our republishing guidelines for use of photos and graphics.
