History in Photos

Scottsdale is known as a vacation and business destination. Scottsdale boasts world-class art galleries, premier shopping and over 200 area golf courses. How many people who visit and live here remember that Scottsdale once began as a small farming settlement? Scottsdale has a rich history of ranches, farms and settlers where it earned the moniker "The West's Most Western Town".

Take a peek at some of our past in photographs.Aerial view of Scottsdale in 1936.

Aerial view of Scottsdale in 1936. Image property of the Scottsdale Public Library.

Branding at DC Ranch - 1920s Branding at DC Ranch - 1920s.

 Cattle drive - Indian School and Scottsdale

Cattle drive - Indian School and Scottsdale Roads - approximately 1920.

Cattle drive west on Bell RoadCattle drive west on Bell Road - approximately 1920.

Cavalliere Hardware & PlumbingCavalliere Hardware & Plumbing (ca 1946): George Cavie Cavalliere and his wife Mary Alice opened Scottsdale's first blacksmith shop, Cavallieres, in 1910 on Brown Avenue at 2nd Street.

E.E. Brown at Brown's RanchBrowns Ranch, also known as the Upper Ranch, was part of the sprawling, 44,000-acre DC Ranch - Browns Ranch cattle operation established by E.O. Brown and partners in 1916 and later run by his son E.E. Brown and partners. 

Gas Station

The Scottsdale Service Company was a gasoline station and car repair shop operated by Mort Kimsey at the northeast corner of Scottsdale Road and Main Street during the 1920s and 1930s. It faced onto Main Street.

Goldie Brown Ranch - 1930sGoldie Brown Ranch (Pinnacle Peak)

Winfield Scott

In 1888, U.S. Army Chaplain Winfield Scott visited the Salt River Valley, was impressed with its potential, and subsequently made a down payment on 640 acres to start a farming operation. Scott’s purchase, near the heart of present-day downtown Scottsdale.