Map Makes Downtown Phoenix Historic Properties Interesting

By Ray Stern
Want to know how to find the Ellis-Shackelford house (pictured above), the "only intact mansion along the downtown portion of Central Avenue?"

This colorful map and accompanying key allows computer users to find many such historic sites in downtown Phoenix. It's somewhat addictive -- zooming in on different buildings and trying to figure out how they fit into the town's past and future. Well, addictive for a few fun-filled minutes, anyway.

Property owners may even be surprised to know their home or business falls under the historic category. The City of Phoenix offers this easy FAQ for those who wonder just what the heck a historic designation means.