You Can Tour a Queen Anne Victorian House Museum in Phoenix and It Looks Amazing

There is never a shortage of interesting places to explore in Phoenix. For example, you can visit this town with several limestone deposits and million-year-old fossils, as well as fascinating museums with where admission is free. But there’s another one beautiful place you should know about. The Rosson House is a popular house because it is an excellent example of the Victorian-style home of the late 1800s. If you love historical architecture, you shouldn’t pass up the chance to see this one!

The Rosson House Is a Fully-Restored 1895 Queen Anne Victorian House Museum

Source: Heritage Square Phoenix

If you frequently drive around the Phoenix area, there might be a slight chance that you’ve already passed by this beautiful house that looks like it survived a different era. The Rosson House is an interesting vintage house in Heritage Square and it is visited by many locals and tourists alike because it interprets the history of Phoenix. It is actually a very good example of the Victorian-style home of the late 1800s (1895).

Source: Heritage Square Phoenix

If you come and visit this house museum, you’ll find that not much of the original furnishings are present, but it is still a must-see if you are passionate about historical stuff. You can only see the Rosson House through guided tours, and each tour takes about 45 to 60 minutes.

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You will see the living areas in the tour, and you will get a glimpse into the true lifestyles of early Phoenix families.

Go on a Journey to the Past

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According to history, the Rosson House was built between 1894 and 1895 and sits on the “original” foundation in downtown Phoenix. It is named after Dr. Roland Lee Rosson and his wife Flora Murray Rosson. The house actually saw a lot of ownership before finally being purchased by the City of Phoenix and restored to its original condition.

So, Who is Dr. Roland Lee Rosson?

Dr. Roland was an established general physician and surgeon who came to Phoenix in 1879. He practiced medicine on and off in the area and was also involved in politics. In fact, he was listed on the Democratic primary ticket in 1882, before being elected as the Maricopa County coroner and public administrator in 1884. He served different roles since then and became the Mayor of Phoenix on May 7, 1895. Dr. Roland was a democrat in this unpaid position and he worked alongside four Republican councilmen. However, it seems Dr. Rosson wasn’t meant for that mayoral position because his stint was short-lived. He had difficulties with the council so he submitted his resignation on April 6, 1896, before he could finish his term. However, his name still appears in different issues of The Arizona Republican newspaper.

Let’s fast forward to Dr. Roland Lee Rosson’s life. He married a woman named Flora B. Murray and they had a total of seven children. In May 1882, they invested in real estate and purchased Block 14 (or the Heritage Square as you know it today) in Phoenix from Flora’s half-sister and her husband. There was an article before that says the Rossons spent a total of $275 to improve their residence. However, the location of the residence is not noted. Some accounts say that prior to the construction of the Rosson House, the Rossons likely lived on Block 14 in an adobe house.

About the Rosson House

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What’s so special about the Rosson House? Well, it was actually quite advanced during its time because it was built with modern accommodations such as electric lights, indoor upstairs bathroom, a telephone, as well as hot and cold running water. The other contemporary Victorian mansions on Monroe were similarly equipped.

Source: Heritage Square Phoenix

In June 1897, the Rossons sold their house and moved to Los Angeles, California. No one knows for sure why, but some newspaper accounts suggest that they may have experienced financial difficulties. The Rosson House got sold to different multiple owners over the years until it was occupied by the Gammel family. This family-owned and lived inside the house longer than any other family.

They ran a rooming or boarding house and made the house better for renters by upgrading the home. They installed walling in porches, subdivided floors, and even added multiple kitchens and bathrooms. After that, the Rosson House operated as a boarding house, but it fell into disrepair.

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The City of Phoenix purchased it including the remainder of Block 14 in 1974. It was restored through a community effort, as well as the support of different local institutions and hundreds of volunteers.

Back in the Days, Phoenix Constructed Houses Using Fired Brick and Wood

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The Rosson House is said to be an early example, though not the first, of a house constructed using fired brick and wood. The actual materials used were adobe bricks. If you come here, you will definitely a journey to the past! This Queen Anne Victorian house museum may not be on the top of your list when visiting Phoenix destinations, but you will find it worth your while. Plus, you’ll get to see the home life of Arizona’s territorial days.

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You might find the burled walnut piano an interesting find. It was made in London by the Collard & Collard company in 1824.

Can You Tour the House Museum?

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Yes, the tours begin every hour, on the hour. However, it is limited to only 12 people per tour, and is on a first-come, first serve without a reservation. If you have a big group with you, you can book a private group tour by calling their Visitor Center.

It looks splendid, right? You’d almost think this was a mini Hogwarts.

The tour prices are as follows:

• Adults – $10
• Seniors, Military, AAA, Students – $9
• Children aged 5-12 years old – $5
• Children under 5 years & Heritage Square Members – Free

Please note that due to the global pandemic, the Rosson House may be closed until further notice. You can check out their website or search for updates before planning a trip here. And once you visit, make sure to prioritize social distancing as well as other safety measures.

Location: 113 N. Sixth St. Phoenix, Arizona 85004
Website: https://heritagesquarephx.org/visit/the-rosson-house/
Contact Details: 602-262-5070

While you’re in Phoenix, don’t forget to drop by this underground bar that looks like a Tiki wonderland! Since we’re in the middle of a global health crisis, please make sure that you observe proper social distancing measures when the Rosson House reopens.