Rosson House Museum at Heritage Square Phoenix
Rosson House Museum, located in Heritage Square in Phoenix, Arizona, is a historic home that has been preserved as a museum to showcase what life was like for the Rosson family in the late 1800s. Built in 1895, the house is a stunning example of Victorian architecture and has been restored to its original beauty, complete with authentic furnishings, artifacts, and period-style gardens.
History
Dr. Roland Lee Rosson, a prominent physician and surgeon in Phoenix, commissioned the construction of the Rosson House in 1894. The house was designed by the architecture firm of Lescher & Mahoney, who were responsible for many of the city’s most important buildings at the time. The house took about a year to complete and was finished in 1895.
The Rosson House was built during a period of growth and prosperity in Phoenix. The city had recently been designated as the capital of the Arizona Territory and was experiencing a boom in population and industry. Dr. Rosson was one of the city’s leading citizens, and his new home was a reflection of his success and standing in the community.
The Rosson House was built in the Eastlake style of Victorian architecture, which was popular at the time. The style is characterized by its use of ornate woodwork, asymmetrical shapes, and decorative details. The house was also built with the latest modern conveniences, including indoor plumbing, gas lighting, and a central heating system.
After the Rosson family moved out of the house in the 1920s, the building was used for various purposes, including as a boarding house, a rental property, and an office building. Over time, the house fell into disrepair and was nearly demolished in the 1960s. Fortunately, a group of concerned citizens formed the Heritage Square Foundation and raised funds to restore the Rosson House to its former glory. The house was restored and opened to the public as a museum in 1974.
Architecture and Design
The Rosson House is a three-story, wood-framed building with a brick foundation. The exterior of the house is clad in wood shingles, with a decorative woodwork frieze and elaborate woodwork detailing around the doors and windows. The house features a large wraparound porch with turned wood columns and brackets, and a second-story balcony with decorative wrought iron railings.
The interior of the house is just as impressive as the exterior. Visitors to the Rosson House Museum can see the original woodwork and furnishings, which have been carefully preserved and restored. The house features an entry hall, a parlor, a dining room, a kitchen, four bedrooms, and two bathrooms. The rooms are decorated with period-style wallpaper, carpets, and furniture, giving visitors a sense of what life was like for the Rosson family in the late 1800s.
One of the most interesting features of the house is the use of innovative technologies for the time. For example, the house has indoor plumbing, including a flushing toilet and a bathtub with hot and cold running water. The house also has gas lighting, which was the latest innovation in lighting technology at the time. The gas chandelier in the parlor is an impressive example of this technology.
The gardens surrounding the house are also worth a visit. The gardens have been restored to their original Victorian-era design, with formal plantings, pathways, and a fountain. Visitors can enjoy a stroll through the gardens and take in the beautiful views of the house from different angles.
