One of the most interesting sources of information on early Phoenix can be found on the Library of Congress' Sanborn Fire Insurance Maps. The Sanborn Map Co. produced detailed maps of 12,000 U.S. cities and towns, detailing not only buildings but in many their construction materials so insurers could assess their risks.
Below I have some views of Phoenix, one in 1911 and the remainder from 1949, focused on Union Station and the Warehouse District. Click for a larger image.
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My book, A Brief History of Phoenix, is available to buy or order at your local independent bookstore, or from Amazon.
Read more Phoenix history in Rogue's Phoenix 101 archive.
Love maps and especially love the Sanborn maps. Great resource and very interesting look back.
Zoomed in to Union Station at https://gis.maricopa.gov/GIO/HistoricalAerial/index.html and toggled between the various aerial views to make sense of the Sanborn maps. Still not quite sure what to make of map 49 and its depiction of the station. Regardless, clearly there were more trees in 1949 than now.
Anything historic fascinates me and I found your blog both interesting and informative. In Las Vegas we are younger than most cities but we have a historic district with homes that celebrities built in the 50’s and 60’s, https://homesforsale.Vegas/downtown-residential/ These houses are very cool and worth seeing while in Las Vegas. We are more than slots and lights. Again, thanks for sharing your knowledge!
Kurt Grosse
https://homesforsale.vegas/