Polly Rosenbaum Building: A Phoenix Landmark

The Polly Rosenbaum Building stands at the corner of 15th Avenue and Washington Street in Phoenix, Arizona, a testament to the city's architectural heritage. Constructed in 1921, the building initially served as the El Zaribah Shrine Auditorium, designed by Lescher & Mahoney and built by Clinton Campbell. Its architectural style is a blend of Exotic Revival and Moorish Revival elements, making it a unique structure in the area.Originally, the building was a hub for the El Zaribah Shrine unit, a local Shriners organization formed in 1896. In the late 1980s, the Shriners relocated, and the State of Arizona acquired the building. It then became home to the Arizona Mining and Mineral Museum in October 1991. The building was renamed the Polly Rosenbaum Building in honor of Polly Rosenbaum, a dedicated member of the Arizona House of Representatives. Rosenbaum, in collaboration with Governor Rose Mofford, championed the acquisition and renovation of the building to permanently house the state's mineral collection and archives.Polly Rosenbaum (1899-2003) was a teacher and Arizona's longest-serving state legislator, representing Gila County in the Arizona House of Representatives for 46 years. She was known for her support for education, libraries, museums, and historic preservation.While the Arizona Mining and Mineral Museum was planned to become the Arizona Centennial Museum in 2012, the plans and funding did not materialize, and the building was left vacant. The Polly Rosenbaum Building is listed on the National Register of Historic Places.