Having grown from a frontier town to the soon-to-be fifth-largest city in the U.S., Phoenix owes much of its development to a steady stream of visitors desiring the sunny weather and scenic wonders of the Southwest. The area�s strong foundation in tourism dates back to 1926 when the Southern Pacific Railroad began providing service that connected Phoenix with California and Chicago, increasing accessibility to visitors.

Many resorts and hotels quickly began popping up across the desert � now there are more than three dozen resorts, nearly 400 hotels and 55,000 total rooms. A handful of these properties, and other attractions, have been mainstays on the local tourism scene from the start and are about to celebrate their 75th anniversaries.

The Arizona Biltmore Resort & Spa The Arizona Biltmore Resort & Spa is celebrating its 75th Anniversary this year. The Biltmore�s historic beginning dates back to late February 1929 upon its opening when it was instantly crowned the �Jewel of the Desert.� The Arizona Biltmore Resort & Spa has been an Arizona landmark since its inception. Legendary architect Frank Lloyd Wright designed The Arizona Biltmore, the state�s first resort, in grand scope and style. It remains only existing hotel in the world with a Frank Lloyd Wright inspired design.

Over the years The Biltmore has hosted generations of celebrities. From legends such as Frank Sinatra, Marlon Brando and Tom Cruise to every U.S. President since Herbert Hoover, the Biltmore has seen them all.

The Four-Star Arizona Biltmore, nestled on 39 acres at the foot of majestic Squaw Peak, is one of the most recognized resorts in the world. After almost 75 years, it remains the historic �Jewel of the Desert� and Arizona�s best-known luxury resort. For more information contact the Arizona Biltmore at (800) 950-0086 or at www.arizonabiltmore.com

Wigwam Resort & Golf Club On Thanksgiving Day, 1929, The Wigwam opened to the public as a resort hotel with 13 rooms that could house 24 guests. Upon check-in, each guest was assigned a horse. And, since most activities centered around the stables, The Wigwam was originally considered a dude ranch. It is now Arizona�s largest luxury golf resort with three 18-hole courses.

Originally known as �The Organization House�, The Wigwam was built as a company lodge for visiting executives of the Goodyear Tire & Rubber Company. Today, the 331-casita resort is managed by Starwood Hotels & Resorts as part of The Luxury Collection. From a 13-room humble lodge to an award-winning resort with 331 luxurious, and newly refurbished casitas following a recent $4.5 million renovation, The Wigwam Resort & Golf Club is truly an Arizona legacy.

For more information contact the Wigwam Resort & Golf Club at (623) 935-3811 or www.wigwamresort.com. Royal Palms Resort & Spa The Royal Palms Resort & Spa dates its roots back to 1929. New York financier Delos Cooke was drawn to Phoenix where he commissioned the building of a mansion in the grand Spanish colonial style on 65 acres. World travelers, Delos and his wife Florence filled the mansion with treasures from around the world. They also imported 900 palm trees, many from Egypt. After Cooke's untimely death in 1931, the home was sold to a series of private parties, who added various rooms, including an in-house chapel. Named for the regal, towering trees lining each side of the entryway, the Royal Palms Inn opened to guests in the winter of 1948. For more information call The Royal Palms at (800) 672-6011 or visit www.royalpalmshotel.com.

Heard Museum Founded in 1929 by Dwight B. and Maie Bartlett Heard, the private, non-profit museum was originally built to house their personal collection of cultural and fine art. More than seven decades of history have transformed the world famous Heard Museum into what USA Today describes as "the nation's most prestigious private Indian arts center." The mission and philosophy of the Heard Museum today is to educate the public about the heritage and the living cultures and arts of Native peoples, with an emphasis on the peoples of the Southwest.

For more information call the Heard Museum at (602) 252-8840 or visit www.heard.org. The Orpheum Theatre The opening of the Orpheum Theatre in 1929, was instantly declared �an epoch in Phoenix history� by The Arizona Republican. The dream of J.E. Rickards and Harry Nace, the Orpheum Theatre was conceived in the golden age of American entertainment when �talking movies� shared the stage with vaudeville acts and new theatres proliferated across the country. A mind-boggling architectural mixture of Spanish medieval and baroque, this movie palace was reputed to be the grandest theater west of the Mississippi. The Orpheum Theatre was a place for people to immerse themselves in a magical world of movies starring such celebrities as Mae West and Frank Sinatra. The Orpheum has survived many changes through the years in both name and ownership. A closure in 1986 was followed by a city-funded restoration and re-opening in 1997. It has been home to everything from vaudeville shows, movies, touring Broadway shows to Spanish language films. After 75 years, The Orpheum Theatre still remains an Arizona landmark.

For more information call the Orpheum Theatre at (602) 534-5600 or visit http://www.ci.phoenix.az.us/STAGES/orpheum.html.

Pueblo Grande Museum The Pueblo Grande Museum was also established in 1929 when it began to study Phoenix�s earliest settlers, the Hohokam. The museum is located on 102 acres of park grounds at the ruins of a Hohokam village that dates back 1,500 years. For nearly 75 years, visitors have learned about an ancient culture that was once a thriving community, yet disappeared without apparent reason several hundred years ago.

The roots of the Pueblo Grande Museum began when Thomas Armstrong, former president of the Arizona Archaeological and Historical Society, purchased the Pueblo Grande platform mound and surrounding donated the property to the City of Phoenix. It was his hope to preserve some of the ancient history of the Salt River Valley that was being rapidly destroyed by farming and development. Throughout the years the Pueblo Grande has continued to grow. The first annual Indian Market was held at the Museum in 1977, and has now become the largest in the state. In 1995 two additional buildings were added - a community room and permanent collections storage - effectively doubling the size of the Museum complex. For more information contact the Pueblo Grande Museum toll free at (877) 706-4408 or visit http://www.ci.phoenix.az.us/PARKS/pueblo.html.

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Media Contact: Stacy Reading +1 602-254-6500 sreading@visitphoenix.com