East Mesa Real Estate > East Mesa Community Info

There are many historical buildings and areas in Mesa. The Sirrine House, built in 1896, was the residence of Joel E. Sirrine, son of George W. Sirrine who was head of one of the four founding families of Mesa. The home, restored by the Mesa Historical Society and operated by the Mesa Southwest Museum, contains antiques and exhibits that depict life for the pioneering families. The Lehi School, built in 1913, is the home of the Mesa Historical Society. Other buildings on the National Register of Historic Places include the Ellis-Johnson home, the Alhambra Hotel, the Fuller/Strauch House and the Spangler/Wilbur House. Two of the original canals build by the Hohokam and later excavated by the Mormons can be found along Horne Road. The Hohokam-Mormon Irrigations Canals were placed on the National Register in 1975. Another listed Hohokam site is Mesa Grande where the partially excavated Indian site includes a large compound.

Mesa has eight historic districts that are overseen by the Historic Preservation Program. The Historic Preservation Program encourages preservation, educates the public and promotes awareness of the architecture and culture found in Mesa. Four historic districts, West Second Street, Evergreen, Glenwood/Wilbur and Temple are listed on the National Register of Historic Places and these have local designation as well. Robson, which has local designation, is under consideration for the National Register. More work is being done on Fraser Fields, Escobedo, Lehi and Clark Historic Districts to prepare them for consideration on the local and national level. There are 487 homes and 22 properties in the historic districts that are individually listed on the National Register. There are also seven archeological sites in Mesa.

The Arizona Museum for Youth is located in Mesa. It features activities and artwork to introduce children from infancy to 12 years old to the concepts of “art” and “aesthetics” while they have a great time interacting with activities and exhibits. The museum also offers art classes for children and their parents. The Mesa Arts Center is a performing arts, visuals arts and arts education facility. It is the largest arts center in Arizona. There are four theaters, galleries and exhibition space, two art studio buildings, classrooms, and performance areas. The Mesa Southwest Museum features displays and exhibits on the culture and natural history of Arizona and the Southwest. The Confederate Air Force Museum is located at Falcon Field. The museum features restored war planes, including a WWII B-17, a B-25 Mitchell bomber, an SNJ, a C-45 and a Grumman Guardian. The Mesa Historical Society makes its home in the Lehi School. Artifacts in the Mesa Historical Society museum were donated by members of the earliest pioneer families in Mesa. Mesa has a thriving Public Art Program with sculptures, paintings, and graphic design located at libraries, bus stop shelters, and Mesa Fire Station 201. Mesa Amphitheatre is the home of the Mesa Symphony and hosts music festivals, movie screenings, and local, national and internationally known bands and groups.

Mesa is one of dozens of communities located in what is known as the "Valley of the Sun" and it is part of the Phoenix Metropolitan area. Phoenix is the sixth largest city in the country; Mesa is the third largest in Arizona. Mixtures of cacti and palm trees landscape the neighborhoods and business centers in the Valley of the Sun. Skyscrapers and mountains glow into the clear, sunny skies, followed by breathtaking sunsets at night. Phoenix offers art exhibits, the symphony, opera, the ballet, and live theatre. Professional sports include NFL football, NBA and WNBA basketball, major league baseball, NHL hockey and PGA and LPGA golf tournaments. Lakes, trails, paths, parks and hundreds of golf courses provide recreation.

Also located in Mesa is the well known master planned golf community of Las Sendas. Featuring 2,400 acres, with over 30% dedicated to natural or manmade open space, Las Sendas is located in the eastern foothills of Mesa near Phoenix. Named one of the Top 5 Communities in the US from 1997-1999 by the National Association of Home Builders Sales and Marketing Council, Las Sendas offers plenty of outdoor recreational activities in this lovely golf community. Miles of hiking trails, tennis and swimming facilities, and of course the Las Sendas Public 18-Hole Championship Golf Course with its fantastic views of the Superstition Mountains and surrounding desert offer residents nothing but awe-inspiring desert beauty.