J Knox Corbett House, Tucson Travel Guide

The J. Knox Corbett House offers a captivating glimpse into Tucson's past. Completed in 1907, this elegant Mission Revival-style house was home to J. Knox Corbett, a local lumber dealer, and his wife, Lizzie Hughes Corbett, for over five decades. The house is located on Main Avenue, next to the Stevens House. Lizzie's aunt and godmother, Petra Stevens, gifted her the land adjacent to the Stevens property.The Corbetts were a prominent family in Tucson, and their home served as a social hub for parties, clubs, and civic meetings. The house features architectural details typical of the Mission Revival style, including stucco-covered brick, a clay-tiled roof, and an arched porch. Inside, visitors can admire original period furniture, art pieces, and artifacts that reflect the family's life and contributions to Tucson's development. One notable feature was one of Tucson's first air conditioning systems, a water-cooling tower located in the basement. Legend has it that gin was manufactured in the attic during Prohibition.The house remained in the Corbett family until the 1960s. It was later acquired by the Tucson Museum of Art in partnership with the City of Tucson. The house was restored in 1995 to reflect the American Arts and Crafts era. The J. Knox Corbett House is part of the Tucson Museum of Art's Historic Block.