The fairgrounds was created in 1905, when a volunteer organization, the Arizona Territorial Fair Association, purchased the property and first developed it.[1] At that time, Arizona was not yet a state and had territory status. In 1909, the grounds were purchased by the Territorial Fair Commission, which became the State Fair Commission after statehood in 1912.
Facilitiesedit
The fairgrounds site includes the following buildings:[2]
The Party Gras, originally the Gem and Mineral Building — a historic 4,176 sq.ft. building built in 1918 to showcase mineral specimens from Arizona's extensive mining industry. The building's interior has a vaulted beamed ceiling, and large skylight above a wrap-around balcony. It is the oldest building at the fairgrounds.[4]
Grandstand — a 1936-1937 WPA grandstand project with 5,000 covered seats, that replaced an older wooden structure that had burned down. The exterior of the grandstand has 23 bas-relief panels by David Carrick Swing and Florence Blakeslee, that were funded by the Federal Art Project.[5] The Grandstand Arena is a historical outdoor area, is used for open-air evens such as horse shows, dirt track events, mud bog spectaculars, races, rodeos, tractor pulls, and demolition derbies.[6]
WPA Administration Building, or the Civic Building — a historic 12,200 sq.ft. PWA Moderne style concrete building, built in 1938 by the Works Projects Administration−WPA, serving as their headquarters for WPA projects in Arizona during the latter Great Depression years.[7]
The Hacienda de Mexico — a 12,546 sq.ft. covered mall (located between the Wesley Bolin Building and the Home Arts Center).[8]
The Home Arts Center — a 13,584 sq.ft. building.[9]
The Agriculture Center — two building totaling 61,000 sq. ft. designed to accommodate large shows and exhibits, including livestock
Wesley Bolin Building — an almost 20,000 sq.ft. exhibit space
Arizona Plaza — a 17,184 sq.ft. adobe style complex.
Exhibit Building — a 50,000 sq.ft. building used for large shows and commercial exhibits.
WPA Administration Buildingedit
The WPA Administration Building was completed in 1939 in the PWA Moderne style.[10][11][12] More recently it had been allowed to deteriorate, and was set for demolition in July 2014, before historic preservationists sought to stop the demolition and were granted a temporary restraining order by the Maricopa CountySuperior Court.[10] They were given until April 14, 2016, to raise $120,000 towards preservation of the building. They succeeded, on 8 April 2016 the project was awarded a historic preservation grant of $120,000 by the PhoenixCity Council and a $80,000 grant by the Phoenix IDA, a provider of private activity bonds for projects that give a public benefit.[13]
Galleryedit
This historic building was first known as the Gem and Mineral Building.
The side wall of the Gem and Mineral Building
Close up view of the Gem and Mineral Building
Inside the Gem and Mineral Building
The historic Arizona State Fair Grandstand
Different view of the historic Arizona State Fair Grandstand
The Arizona State Fair WPA Civic Building
The front entrance of the Arizona State Fair WPA Civic Building
The Arizona State Fair Home Economics Building was built in 1940
Close up view of the Arizona State Fair Home Economics.
Referencesedit
^"Arizona State Fairgrounds". Retrieved April 10, 2016.
^"Arizona Exposition & State Fair.com: Arizona Exposition & State Fair Facilities". Retrieved April 10, 2016.
^Arizona Exposition & State Fair.com: Arizona Veterans Memorial Coliseum
^Arizona Exposition & State Fair.com: Party Gras building
^Living New Deal Blog: Arizona State Fairgrounds Stadium and Art
^Arizona Exposition & State Fair.com: Grandstand Arena
^"Race to restore 1930s-era Phoenix sites from ruin". Retrieved April 10, 2016.
^Arizona Exposition & State Fair.com: Hacienda De Mexico building
^Arizona Exposition & State Fair.com: Home Arts Center building
^ abPhoenix New Times: "Demolition of WPA Civic Building at Arizona State Fairgrounds on Temporary Hold", 18 July 2014.
^Youtube.com: "1938 WPA Administration Building in 1949 & 1969"
^KJZZ.org: "Did You Know: Arizona State Fairgrounds 110 Years Old", by Nadine Arroyo Rodriguez, 21 August 2015; with images of the WPA Grandstand and Administration Building.
^"$200,000 to go toward preserving State Fairgrounds building". Retrieved April 10, 2016.
External linksedit
Wikimedia Commons has media related to Arizona State Fairgrounds.
arizona, state, fairgrounds, permanent, fairgrounds, mcdowell, road, encanto, village, within, city, phoenix, arizona, united, states, currently, used, yearly, host, arizona, state, fair, maricopa, county, fair, well, other, events, arizona, veterans, memorial. The Arizona State Fairgrounds is a permanent fairgrounds on McDowell Road Encanto Village within the city of Phoenix Arizona United States It is currently used yearly to host the Arizona State Fair and the Maricopa County Fair as well as for other events The Arizona Veterans Memorial Coliseum an arena at the fairgrounds hosted the Phoenix Suns of the National Basketball Association from 1968 to 1992 In 1992 the team moved to what is known today as Footprint Center The dirt oval track hosted AAA National Championship and USAC National Championship races in 1915 and from 1950 to 1963 and NASCAR Grand National races in 1951 1955 1956 and 1960 It was replaced by the Phoenix Raceway in 1964 Contents 1 History 2 Facilities 3 WPA Administration Building 4 Gallery 5 References 6 External linksHistory editThe fairgrounds was created in 1905 when a volunteer organization the Arizona Territorial Fair Association purchased the property and first developed it 1 At that time Arizona was not yet a state and had territory status In 1909 the grounds were purchased by the Territorial Fair Commission which became the State Fair Commission after statehood in 1912 Facilities editThe fairgrounds site includes the following buildings 2 The Arizona Veterans Memorial Coliseum a Modernist style 14 870 seat multipurpose indoor arena 3 The Party Gras originally the Gem and Mineral Building a historic 4 176 sq ft building built in 1918 to showcase mineral specimens from Arizona s extensive mining industry The building s interior has a vaulted beamed ceiling and large skylight above a wrap around balcony It is the oldest building at the fairgrounds 4 Grandstand a 1936 1937 WPA grandstand project with 5 000 covered seats that replaced an older wooden structure that had burned down The exterior of the grandstand has 23 bas relief panels by David Carrick Swing and Florence Blakeslee that were funded by the Federal Art Project 5 The Grandstand Arena is a historical outdoor area is used for open air evens such as horse shows dirt track events mud bog spectaculars races rodeos tractor pulls and demolition derbies 6 WPA Administration Building or the Civic Building a historic 12 200 sq ft PWA Moderne style concrete building built in 1938 by the Works Projects Administration WPA serving as their headquarters for WPA projects in Arizona during the latter Great Depression years 7 The Hacienda de Mexico a 12 546 sq ft covered mall located between the Wesley Bolin Building and the Home Arts Center 8 The Home Arts Center a 13 584 sq ft building 9 The Agriculture Center two building totaling 61 000 sq ft designed to accommodate large shows and exhibits including livestock Wesley Bolin Building an almost 20 000 sq ft exhibit space Arizona Plaza a 17 184 sq ft adobe style complex Exhibit Building a 50 000 sq ft building used for large shows and commercial exhibits WPA Administration Building editThe WPA Administration Building was completed in 1939 in the PWA Moderne style 10 11 12 More recently it had been allowed to deteriorate and was set for demolition in July 2014 before historic preservationists sought to stop the demolition and were granted a temporary restraining order by the Maricopa County Superior Court 10 They were given until April 14 2016 to raise 120 000 towards preservation of the building They succeeded on 8 April 2016 the project was awarded a historic preservation grant of 120 000 by the Phoenix City Council and a 80 000 grant by the Phoenix IDA a provider of private activity bonds for projects that give a public benefit 13 Gallery edit nbsp This historic building was first known as the Gem and Mineral Building nbsp The side wall of the Gem and Mineral Building nbsp Close up view of the Gem and Mineral Building nbsp Inside the Gem and Mineral Building nbsp The historic Arizona State Fair Grandstand nbsp Different view of the historic Arizona State Fair Grandstand nbsp The Arizona State Fair WPA Civic Building nbsp The front entrance of the Arizona State Fair WPA Civic Building nbsp The Arizona State Fair Home Economics Building was built in 1940 nbsp Close up view of the Arizona State Fair Home Economics References edit Arizona State Fairgrounds Retrieved April 10 2016 Arizona Exposition amp State Fair com Arizona Exposition amp State Fair Facilities Retrieved April 10 2016 Arizona Exposition amp State Fair com Arizona Veterans Memorial Coliseum Arizona Exposition amp State Fair com Party Gras building Living New Deal Blog Arizona State Fairgrounds Stadium and Art Arizona Exposition amp State Fair com Grandstand Arena Race to restore 1930s era Phoenix sites from ruin Retrieved April 10 2016 Arizona Exposition amp State Fair com Hacienda De Mexico building Arizona Exposition amp State Fair com Home Arts Center building a b Phoenix New Times Demolition of WPA Civic Building at Arizona State Fairgrounds on Temporary Hold 18 July 2014 Youtube com 1938 WPA Administration Building in 1949 amp 1969 KJZZ org Did You Know Arizona State Fairgrounds 110 Years Old by Nadine Arroyo Rodriguez 21 August 2015 with images of the WPA Grandstand and Administration Building 200 000 to go toward preserving State Fairgrounds building Retrieved April 10 2016 External links edit nbsp Wikimedia Commons has media related to Arizona State Fairgrounds Arizona Exposition and State Fair 33 28 10 N 112 05 51 W 33 46944 N 112 09750 W 33 46944 112 09750 Retrieved from https en wikipedia org w index php title Arizona State Fairgrounds amp oldid 1176247989, wikipedia, wiki, book, books, library,
