FEBRUARY 2018 50 | {publisher’s page} OPEN DOORS I love that Arizona’s birthday is on February 14. Yes, there is a big “Hallmark holiday” on that date too but since our great state celebrated its centennial in 2012, I think it’s great fun to talk about Arizona’s special day for other reasons than the red and pink cards that furiously get filled out by children the night before. So where can one go for some inspiration and be a part of the annual celebration that is Arizona’s birthday any time of the year? A great place to start is the intersection of North College Avenue and East Curry Road in north Tempe, otherwise known as Papago Park. That very large building up on the hill is the AZ Heritage Center and the surrounding area includes places every Arizonan should go and see. The AZ Heritage Center is the new name for the Arizona Historical Society Museum. Inside is what is now called the Centennial Museum as well as the official state archives. This place is a treasure trove of history, artifacts and stories to be explored. The lobby exhibit is a presentation of the state’s Historymakers — a selection of Arizonans who have been inducted into the museum by the Historical League for their contributions to our state. Current exhibits include Footprints on the Desert: Frank Lloyd Wright in Arizona ; a selection of gems and minerals from the state’s collection; and the museum’s collection of fun and interesting artifacts. They also offer family-friendly tours and host lectures and public events, including a statehood day celebration on February 13, 2018, with our state’s historian Marshall Trimble and Arizona’s official state balladeer, Dolan Ellis. I hope to see you there! Also, on the AZ Heritage Center campus is Justice Sandra Day O’Connor’s historic adobe brick home that was moved brick by brick from Paradise Valley to the Papago Park location in 2006. You can take a peek at the home when you are at the museum and this unique and historic venue is available for organizations to hold meetings and social events. Interesting to note: Volunteers come together for mudslinging each year to preserve the adobe brick. Finally, another not-to-miss site just north of the Center is the Eisendrath House, now the Eisendrath Center for Water Conservation. This beautiful 1930 two-story Pueblo revival- A TREASURE TROVE OF HISTORY

FEBRUARY 2018 | 51 style adobe structure is set with period furniture and galleries with interpretive educational panels highlighting the famed Arizona architect Robert Thomas Evans (no relation) and the importance of adobe revival in our valley in the 30′s and 40′s. Also housed in this historic former residence is a gallery dedicated to the history of water in our state, water conservation, and sustainability education and best practices, highlighting education partner SRP. And the views from the upstairs patio are incredible! Book a Thursday or Saturday tour in advance to see this historical gem. The weather is gorgeous and I’m willing to bet that you have not visited all of these wonderful places within one location … so, go and shoot me a note about what you discover from your visit! Andrea Tyler Evans PUBLISHER @AndreaTEvans Andrea AZ HERITAGE CENTER 1300 N College Ave, Tempe, AZ 85281 arizonahistoricalsociety.org/ museums/tempe O’CONNOR INSTITUTE Arizona Center for Law and Society at ASU, 111 E Taylor St #9220, Phoenix, AZ 85004 oconnorinstitute.org/programs/ oconnor-history/oconnor-house EISENDRATH CENTER 1400 N College Ave Tempe, AZ 85281 riosaladofoundation.org/projects/ eisendrath-center-for-water-conservation