Land of the Hohokam People

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The Hohokam people lived on the land that would one day become Phoenix, Arizona for over 1,000 years. They created irrigation canals to make the land more arable. These canal paths were later put into use for the modern Arizona Canal and others. The first Europeans arrived in the 17th and 18th centuries. An American Civil War veteran named Jack Swilling was involved in the history of Phoenix as it became a city. He was the one to build a series of canals following the paths of the ancient canals built by the Native Americans. The name Phoenix for the city was suggested by Lord Darrell Duppa due to the fact that like the bird this city was born from the ruins of a former civilization. In 1902 the 26th U.S. President Theodore Roosevelt signed the National Reclamation Act that let dams be built on western streams. The Roosevelt Dam was completed in 1911. It was under the 27th U.S. President William Howard Taft that Phoenix became the capital of Arizona. Phoenix grew quickly and developed and many decaying neighborhoods got a new facelift. Today Phoenix, Arizona is known for its year-round sunshine and warm temperatures. Tourists enjoy the spa resorts, golf courses, and nightclubs. Tourist attractions include Desert Botanical Garden, South Mountain Park, Camelback Mountain and the Phoenix Zoo. Who has been to Phoenix? Photo of Arizona postcard