Join Hip Historian Marshall Shore as he takes a closer look at the Eisendrath House in Tempe and shares more about its past.

Driving north on College Avenue from Curry Road, you might have noticed the lovely old pink adobe house perched on the hill behind the AZ Heritage Center at Papago Park. It was built in 1930 as the residence of Rose Eisendrath, widow of the wealthy Chicago glove manufacturer, Joseph N. Eisendrath. When she was refused at a local resort because of her Jewish heritage, Rose bought this piece of land in Tempe and built her adobe villa where she lived until her death in 1936.

After her death, the house had several owners, including one whose spirit is rumored to still dwell there.  It  was best known as an artist colony in the 70s and 80s. Eventually Eisendrath House was abandoned and fell into disrepair until it underwent a decade long restoration through public-private partnerships in association with the Rio Salado Foundation.

The home re-opened in 2015 as the Eisendrath Center for Water Conservation serving as a focal point for Tempe’s water conservation efforts. Future plans include interactive displays inside the house that will tell the city’s water story and help promote conservation efforts for the entire region.

Residents and visitors can schedule a docent-led tour of this historic house by appointment on Thursdays and Saturdays from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. Make a tour reservation by calling 480-858-2202 or sending an email to [email protected].