Historic Photo Exhibition Depicts Early Scottsdale

Take a peek back in time with Historic Scottsdale: Live, Work and Play in the Early 20th Century, a newly curated photo exhibition opening Tuesday, Sept. 4, at the Gallery @ Appaloosa Library.

This exhibition features dozens of historic photographs in celebration of the 50th anniversary of the opening of the Bennie Gonzales-designed Scottsdale City Hall and Civic Center Library in October 1968. Scottsdale Public Art is hosting this exhibition in conjunction with the city's other Scottsdale Celebrate '68 events in October.

"It's a perfect time to reflect on the history of every corner of Scottsdale and the men and women who comprise our history," said Joan Fudala, a community historian who wrote the text for the exhibition. "A stroll along the wall of photos at Appaloosa can't help but instill a pride of place, and perhaps make a connection to something in your past, too, no matter where you came from or what era you consider your own."

The exhibition is designed to help modern residents imagine what life was like in Scottsdale 50 to 100 years ago. Through these photographs, visitors will peer through windows into the past, observing the pioneers of Scottsdale and how they lived their lives, from farming and ranching to recreation and the beginnings of tourism and health care.

This collection of images was hand-picked by Wendy Raisanen, curator of collections and exhibitions for Scottsdale Public Art. She chose them from among the thousands of digitized photos in the Scottsdale Heritage Connection, a partnership of community organizations that celebrate Scottsdale history. They are available to the public on the Scottsdale Public Library's website at ScottsdaleLibrary.org/historical.

The photographs depict ordinary folks shopping at the general store, building canals, hunting and riding in early automobiles. Children attended classes at the Little Red School House and eventually Scottsdale High School. They swam in the canals - when it was still allowed - and played marbles on dirt roads.

"They visually provide a backstory on the places and faces of our community," said Fudala, who is on the advisory board of the Scottsdale Historical Society and the Board of Trustees for Western Spirit: Scottsdale's Museum of the West. "We're so fortunate that over the past 50 years the Scottsdale Historical Society and the Scottsdale Public Library have been preserving these precious reminders of where we've been so that we can better understand Scottsdale today."

Historic Scottsdale: Live, Work and Play in the Early 20th Century will remain on display through Wednesday, Oct. 31. Library hours are 9 a.m. - 8 p.m. Monday through Thursday, 10 a.m. - 6 p.m. Friday through Saturday and 1-5 p.m. on Sundays. For information visit ScottsdalePublicArt.org or call 480-874-4645.

The mission of Scottsdale Public Art is to make Scottsdale one of the most desirable communities in the country in which to live, work and visit by incorporating art and design projects throughout. In 1985, the City of Scottsdale established Scottsdale Public Art with the goal to enhance the quality of life for its residents and visitors. Since then more than 100 permanent and temporary public artworks have been commissioned throughout the community. Scottsdale's program and projects have won local, regional and national awards.

Through its partnership with the City of Scottsdale, the nonprofit Scottsdale Arts (formerly known as Scottsdale Cultural Council) creates diverse, inspired arts experiences and educational opportunities that foster active, lifelong community engagement with the arts. Since its founding in 1987, Scottsdale Arts has grown into a regionally and nationally significant, multi-disciplinary arts organization offering an exceptional variety of programs through four acclaimed branches - Scottsdale Center for the Performing Arts, Scottsdale Museum of Contemporary Art (SMoCA), Scottsdale Public Art and Scottsdale Arts Education & Outreach - serving more than 400,000 participants annually

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