Water damage from a recent storm in the Arizona Heritage Center's Steele Auditorium. (Courtesy of the Arizona Historical Society)
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I visited the Arizona Heritage Center in Tempe a few years ago to cover a COVID memorial event, and I thought it was a really cool place. It houses a museum dedicated to Phoenix and central Arizona history, a research library, an events space, and storage for historic items.
Unfortunately, the Arizona Historical Society is closing the center from Nov. 10 to Jan. 5 as it undergoes critical repairs.
The society said the center already had a backlog of maintenance issues before a break-in attempt in August and recent storms caused damage.
The center was hit with extensive water damage in exhibit rooms, the auditorium, and the lobby, and it needs over $300,000 in repairs to the building’s HVAC system.
The center also expects to spend $100,000-$200,000 to replace and upgrade the AV system. Other things that need fixes include floors, elevators, wall and ceiling panels, and exterior facades.
The historical society noted that the center’s permanent exhibition spaces have not been updated in over 20 years, and improvements to those spaces will cost as much as $600,000.
The center, which first opened in 1994, is asking the community for donations to help support the repair costs.
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