• Alhambra School (former) Improvements - Phoenix AZ
    The federal Works Progress Administration (WPA) conducted improvement work at the old Alhambra School in Phoenix, Arizona during the 1930s. A gymnasium was also constructed in 1938. Living New Deal believes the old facility to be demolished.
  • Arizona State Capitol Annex Building - Phoenix AZ
    The Public Works Administration (PWA) funded the construction of the State Capitol Annex Building in 1938. The University of Arizona Libraries Digital Collections information page on State Capitol murals mentions that PWA funds were used "to hire Jay Datus to paint a series of murals entitled 'The Pageant of Arizona Progress.' Datus came to Arizona in 1937 at the age of 23, already an accomplished and well-known artist. He spent two years in research for these works in order to accurately depict the dress and actions of his subjects. His figures include Native Americans, miners, explorers, missionaries and pioneers." According to C.W....
  • Arizona State Fairgrounds Stadium and Art - Phoenix AZ
    The Works Progress Administration built the grandstand at the Arizona State Fair grounds in Phoenix. "As the Great Depression deepened and thousands were uprooted and looking for work, numerous fairgrounds were turned into camps for these transients. The Arizona State Fairgrounds provided a temporary place to stay and an opportunity to earn money through labor. Funded by the Federal Emergency Relief Administration and later the Works Progress Administration, transients helped to construct the stadium. A fifty-foot grandstand, an adobe wall on three sides of the grounds, and an auto racing track inside the horse track were created in 1936. Exhibit buildings...
  • Arizona State Hospital Additions - Phoenix AZ
    The Works Progress Administration built additions for the Arizona State Hospital (also known as the Arizona State Hospital for the Insane) in Phoenix. The present condition of the structures in unknown to the Living New Deal.
  • Buckeye Road Sidewalks and Improvements - Phoenix AZ
    The federal Works Progress Administration (WPA) constructed sidewalks along, and otherwise improved, Buckeye Road in Phoenix, Arizona during the 1930s.
  • Cochise County Courthouse Sculpture - Bisbee AZ
    "To portray 'beauty, toil and simplicity' was the goal of artist, R. Phillips Sanderson, when he designed the 'Copper Miner.' Sanderson had moved to Bisbee during the Depression and worked as a commercial artist. He was paid $30.00 per month by the Federal Emergency Relief Administration during the six months it took to complete the statue. Bisbee native, Lee Petrovitch, posed for the artist. The statue was cast in concrete and covered (metalized) with a thin layer of copper. The statue was dedicated to all of the miners who had worked in Bisbee mines."
  • Coronado Historic Neighborhood Sidewalks - Phoenix AZ
    WPA created sidewalks and curbs poured as the neighborhood developed between 1939 and 1942.
  • Coronado Park - Phoenix AZ
    "Phoenix has no shortage of projects. The city’s park system is a major benefactor, with huge undertakings in places like South Mountain Park and Encanto Park and smaller projects, such as a bathhouse in Coronado Park...South Mountain Park near Central Avenue and Baseline Road was home to a CCC camp that employed 4,000 young men between 1933 and 1940. They built lookout points, ramadas, trails and bathrooms that are historical and architectural gems today."
  • East Van Buren Street Improvements - Phoenix AZ
    The federal Works Progress Administration (WPA) worked to develop and improve Phoenix, Arizona's East Van Buren Street during the 1930s.
  • Eastlake Park - Phoenix AZ
    The park was originally called Phoenix Park, renamed Eastlake Park in 1903, and bought by the City of Phoenix in 1914 (City of Phoenix African American Historic Property Survey pp 29-30). The survey further states that: "In 1937 Works Progress Administration funding provided for the construction at Eastlake Park of a bathhouse, showers, and dressing rooms for the pool. Two years later, the city added lights, swings, sandboxes, sports facilities, and equipment." "...the park was a significant site for civil rights rallies and the starting point of all civil rights marches to the Capital; until it grew too large to continue...
  • Encanto Blvd. Sidewalk - Phoenix AZ
    The W.P.A. constructed sidewalks in Phoenix, AZ, including at "Encanto & First Ave."
  • Encanto Park Bandshell - Phoenix AZ
    "The revival of interest in listening to music out of doors has not been overlooked by the city of Phoenix in its park improvement program, and this band shell in the Dorris-Norton Park provides a place where the bands and orchestras of the city can play. The shell is constructed entirely of wood covered with stucco and has been designed to reflect and amplify the sound over a large area of the park. It was completed in June 1937 at a construction cost of $5,400 and a project cost of $6,731 which did not include electrical connections for lighting or...
  • Encanto Park Improvements and Clubhouse - Phoenix AZ
    "In order to provide its citizens and its large transient population with better park facilities, the city of Phoenix undertook the rehabilitation and beautification of existing parks and the acquisition of lands for the creation of new mountain and city parks. The type of buildings erected in these parks was similar in all cases and their character and design blend with the brilliant sunshine and the native foliage. The illustration on this page is a view of the club house in the Dorris-Norton Park. It is one and part two stories in height and contains a large public dining room,...
  • Federal Building and Post Office (former) - Phoenix AZ
    The former Phoenix Federal Building and Post Office (now owned by ASU) was designed by Phoenix architectural firm Lescher and Mahoney in the Spanish Colonial Revival style. Construction had begun in 1932, before the advent of FDR's presidency (and thus prior to the New Deal); however, the building bears a 1935 cornerstone, which places it well within the time of FDR! Wikipedia explains: "A site was chosen in 1931 and Phoenix architects Lescher and Mahoney were commissioned to design a six-story building that was intended to house all of the federal services in the city. Construction was begun on the foundations....
  • Federal Building and Post Office (former) Murals - Phoenix AZ
    The historic former Federal Building and Post Office in Phoenix, Arizona houses examples of New Deal artwork. In 1937 the U.S. Treasury’s Section of Fine Arts commissioned artist La Verne Nelson Black to create two murals for the east wing of the post office, respectively entitled "Historical Background" and "Progress of the Pioneer." The murals present images of Anglo-American settlement and industrialization. Black moved with his family to Phoenix for health reasons and focused his painting and sculpture on the historic West and Native Americans. Another three murals funded by the Section were painted by Oscar Berninghaus. They hang in...
  • Grant Park - Phoenix AZ
    "A major park that African Americans on the west side frequented was Grant Park, located at 3rd Avenue and Grant Street. Grant Park existed as an empty lot with grass and trees until the city Parks and Recreation Department renovated it in 1934 through Civil Works Administration funding. In 1937 Works Progress Administration funding provided for the construction at Eastlake Park of a bathhouse, showers, and dressing rooms for the pool. Two years later, the city added lights, swings, sandboxes, sports facilities, and equipment. The park added a bandstand, tennis courts, and a recreation hall where teens in the 1950s...
  • Lynwood and 15th Street Sidewalks - Phoenix AZ
    The Works Progress Administration built sidewalks on Lynwood and 15th Street in the west side of Phoenix, circa 1937.
  • National Guard Arsenal (Papago Park)- Phoenix AZ
    "The old National Guard Arsenal is the second largest adobe building in continuous use in the United States. Funded by the Works Progress Administration in 1936, it was part of the recreation development of Papago Park, an expansive, designed landscape."
  • North High School - Phoenix AZ
    Phoenix, Arizona's North High School was constructed with the assistance of Public Works Administration (PWA) funds in 1939. "The North Phoenix High School was built to relieve the overcrowded Phoenix Union High School which enrolled over 5,000 students in 1939. The construction of the North Phoenix High School was financed by both PWA funds totaling more than $365,000 and money from a two million dollar bond issue. All the buildings at North Phoenix High School were completed in 1939 except for the athletic field which was built in 1940." (nps.gov)
  • Papago Highway - Tempe to Scottsdale AZ
    The Works Progress Administration carried out road construction on the Papago Highway, connecting Tempe with Scottsdale. This is possibly the road now known as N Galvin Parkway, not to be confused with the Interstate highway known as the Papago Freeway.
  • Papago Park Amphitheater - Phoenix AZ
    The amphitheater in the Papago Buttes at the north end of the Papago city park in Phoenix AZ was built by the Civilian Conservation Corps (CCC) in 1933-34. "Civilian Conservation Corps camp SP5A constructed an amphitheater built into Papago Buttes southeast of the Arsenal between December 1933 and April 1934. The open-air amphitheater accommodates 3,500 people; it has been used for many functions, but most memorable were the Easter Sunrise Services." (content.library.arizona.edu) Maintenance of the amphitheater appears to be somewhat neglected today (2019).
  • Phoenix College Auditorium - Phoenix AZ
    The Public Works Administration funded the construction an auditorium building at the Junior College (today Phoenix College) in Phoenix. The facade architecture features Art Deco elements and white plaster finish. The auditorium is still in service today at Phoenix College.  
  • Phoenix College Buildings and Murals - Phoenix AZ
    "In 1939 Phoenix College moved from its old location to a new site at Thomas and 15th. The architectural firm of Lescher and Mahoney was hired with Public Works Administration funds to design the first six buildings for the new campus. The Liberal Arts and Science buildings; a gym; a combination library, auditorium and administration building; a cafeteria; and a central heating plant formed the core of the college for many years. Although some now support different activities, all six buildings are still standing. The lower level of the new library contains two paintings funded by the Federal Emergency Relief...
  • Phoenix Homesteads - Phoenix AZ
    "In 1934 the Division of Subsistence Homesteads purchased a tract of land on what was then the outskirts of Phoenix in order to build a public housing community for low-income residents. Construction of the first half of the Phoenix Homesteads began in 1934 and was completed in 1935. These Pueblo Revival style adobe homes were built on 0.75-acre parcels to accommodate subsistence gardens and small farm animals. Fruit, nut, and olive trees added to the self-sufficiency of the community. Trees and shrubs were planted for shade and privacy. A second small-scale farming cooperative was planned in 1935 by the Resettlement...
  • Road Work - Phoenix AZ
    "The PWA has made a grant of $61,200 to the city of Phoenix, Maricopa County, Arizona, for street improvements including paving of portions of 8th, Richland St., 9th, Monte Vista Road, Mitchell St., Coronado Road, and Almeria Road. Estimated cost is $136,000"
  • South Mountain Park: CCC Camps - Phoenix AZ
    South Mountain Park in Phoenix AZ was the site of two Civilian Conservation Corps (CCC) camps from 1933 to 1940, labeled SP-3A and SP-4A.  Around 4,000 CCC enrollees passed through the camps over that time, in Companies 864, 874, and possibly others. The camps appear to have been located on level ground near the entrance to the park, perhaps near the present site of the Environmental Education Center.  It is not clear from historic photographs and their labels if the camps were at a single site or were separate.  Remnants of CCC barracks are said to be still visible (NNDPA 2012). The...
  • South Mountain Park: Lookouts - Phoenix AZ
    South Mountain Park in Phoenix AZ was developed for public recreation by the Civilian Conservation Corps (CCC) from 1933 to 1940.  The best known of the works by the CCC is the large stone shelter at the Dobbins Lookout, which is the popular symbol of the park and famous for its spectacular views of the city of Phoenix.  Dobbins lookout is accessible by car via Summit Road, which has a large parking area with low stone walls (presumably by the CCC, as well). There is a small stone shelter not far west of Dobbins Lookout and a platform lookout, with a low...
  • South Mountain Park: Picnic Ramadas - Phoenix AZ
    South Mountain Park in Phoenix AZ was developed for public recreation by the Civilian Conservation Corps (CCC) from 1933 to 1940. Among the works of the CCC were two ramadas, which are large, elaborate picnic areas, with stunning views north over the city of Phoenix. The ramadas consist of polished concrete picnic tables protected from the desert sun by wooden roofs raised on stone or concrete pillars, with large central spaces surrounded by stone walls.  The big ramada is very extensive and reached by stone steps.  Low stone walls line the approach road to the ramadas and the complex includes a path...
  • South Mountain Park: Ranger Station - Phoenix AZ
    South Mountain Park in Phoenix AZ was developed for public recreation by the Civilian Conservation Corps (CCC) from 1933 to 1940. One the main works done by the CCC was  an entrance station complex that included a museum, administrative offices, caretaker's house and entrance kiosk.  The museum and office building was completed in 1934 and was the first permanent structure in the park;  the residence and kiosk were added in 1937-38 (NNDPA 2012).  The entire complex is the present Ranger Station at the park entrance. The ranger station is a remarkable stone structure, built of flat, dark stones and projecting roof...
  • South Mountain Park: Roads and Trails - Phoenix AZ
    South Mountain Park in Phoenix AZ was developed for public recreation by the Civilian Conservation Corps (CCC) from 1933 to 1940.  During that time, the CCC enrollees built many, if not most, of the roads and trails in the park – though we cannot be sure exactly which ones.       
  • State Capitol Annex Building Mural - Phoenix AZ
    From the University of Arizona Libraries Digital Collection: “Public Works Administration funds were used to construct the State Capitol Annex Building in 1938 and to hire Jay Datus to paint a series of murals entitled “The Pageant of Arizona Progress.” Datus came to Arizona in 1937 at the age of 23, already an accomplished and well-known artist. He spent two years in research for these works in order to accurately depict the dress and actions of his subjects. His figures include Native Americans, miners, explorers, missionaries and pioneers.”
  • Street Improvements - Phoenix AZ
    Numerous large-scale street improvement and paving projects were undertaken in Tucson, Arizona during the Great Depression with the assistance of federal Public Work Administration (PWA) funds. The PWA supplied outright grants of more than $665,000 (not adjusted for inflation) for the work. PWA Docket Nos. AZ 1067, 1068, 1069, 1070, 1071, 1076, 1080, 1081, 1082, 1083, 1084, 1085, 1086, 1087, 1088, 1119, 1141, 1144