Imagine driving down Southern Avenue and instead of seeing strip malls and industrial facilities, it’s miles of dirt roads and alfalfa fields.
That is what Tempe’s Petersen House Museum looked out upon when it was first constructed in 1892 for Niels Petersen, a Danish immigrant and rancher, and his wife Susanna. Located at 1414 W. Southern Avenue, the home serves as a reminder of the city’s deep agricultural roots when it is open for tours every year from October through April.
The home of one of Tempe’s pioneers is now listed on the National Register of Historic Places, one of 50 in the city.
