Discover Tempe's Eisendrath House: A Historic Gem with Hip Historian Marshall Shore
Join acclaimed Hip Historian Marshall Shore for an in-depth exploration of Tempe's iconic Eisendrath House and its fascinating history.
As you drive north on College Avenue from Curry Road, the charming pink adobe house atop the hill behind the Arizona Heritage Center at Papago Park catches the eye. Constructed in 1930, it served as the residence of Rose Eisendrath, widow of Chicago glove manufacturer Joseph N. Eisendrath. Denied entry to a local resort due to her Jewish heritage, Rose purchased the Tempe land and built her elegant adobe villa, where she resided until her passing in 1936.
Following her death, the property changed hands several times, including an owner whose spirit is said to linger. It gained fame as an artist colony in the 1970s and 1980s. Abandoned and deteriorating for years, the Eisendrath House was meticulously restored over a decade through public-private partnerships with the Rio Salado Foundation.
The house reopened in 2015 as the Eisendrath Center for Water Conservation, now a hub for Tempe's sustainability initiatives. Upcoming features include interactive exhibits inside the home to share the city's water history and promote regional conservation.
Residents and visitors can book docent-led tours by appointment on Thursdays and Saturdays from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. Reserve by calling 480-858-2202 or emailing heritagecenter@tempe.gov.
