On April 12, the Blenman-Elm neighborhood will once again open its doors — literally and figuratively — to the wider Tucson community with the return of the Blenman-Elm Home Tour: Dwellings Through Time.
The self-guided tour invites visitors to explore one of Tucson’s most distinctive historic neighborhoods while highlighting something even more enduring than architecture: a strong sense of community.
One of the homes to be featured in the April 12 Blenman-Elm Home Tour.
Established in the early 1900s, Blenman-Elm is on the national registry of historic neighborhoods. It’s a place of historic preservation, creative expression, and quintessential desert life. Home tour attendees can expect to stroll tree-lined streets, pass blooming desert gardens, hear birdsong overhead, and take part in the easy, shared rhythm of a Tucson spring day alongside neighbors and visitors alike.
The tour highlights a diverse collection of occupied homes and spaces that demonstrate thoughtful adaptations designed to suit modern Tucson living, while still honoring the neighborhood’s many historical architectural styles.
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This year’s featured home is a stunning Mediterranean Revival with a charming love story. Originally built as two separate residences, the homes were combined into a single dwelling in the mid-1960s. Local legend has it that the story began in the shared courtyard, where two neighbors met, fell in love, and ultimately joined not just their hearts, but their homes.
This year’s featured home is this Mediterranean Revival. Originally built as two separate residences, the homes were combined into a single dwelling in the mid-1960s. Local legend has it that two neighbors met in the shared courtyard, fell in love, and ultimately joined not just their hearts, but their homes.
The tour will also include a portion of the historic Arizona Inn, offering visitors a rare opportunity to experience one of Tucson’s most iconic properties within the context of the surrounding neighborhood.
The Blenman-Elm home tour raises funds for neighborhood-enhancing projects such as pocket parks and community artworks.
The home tour is presented by the Blenman-Elm Neighborhood Association (BENA), and raises funds for neighborhood-enhancing projects such as pocket parks and community artworks, reinforcing the organization’s strong tradition of community engagement and place-based creativity.
The theme of the Blenman-Elm Home Tour is Dwellings Through Time.
In keeping with that commitment, a portion of tour proceeds will be donated to Blenman Elementary School, supporting the next generation of Tucson residents.
“The people who live here really care about this place and each other,” said a home tour committee member. “Blenman-Elm is iconic Tucson — not just in architectural style, but because of its warm and welcoming spirit.”
Photos: Tucson's historic neighborhoods
El Presidio Neighborhood, Tucson
El Presidio Neighborhood is where Tucson began as a Spanish Colonial outpost. Most of the structures date from 1860 to 1920, and styles include Sonoran, Transformed Sonoran, Transitional, American Territorial, Mission Revival and Craftsman Bungalow.
Broadway Village, 1946
Broadway Village Shopping Center, pictured in 1946, is among the historic landmarks featured in the third edition of the Guide to Tucson's Historic Neighborhoods.
Broadmoor Neighborhood, Tucson
This edition of the Guide to Tucson's Historic Neighborhoods includes one of the latest neighborhoods to get historic designation, Broadmoor-Broadway Village neighborhood, a subdivision south of Broadway between Country Club Road and Tucson Boulevard.
Broadmoor Neighborhood, Tucson
Broadmoor Neighborhood, Tucson
Broadmoor Neighborhood, Tucson
Broadmoor Neighborhood, Tucson
Sam Hughes Neighborhood, Tucson
Sam Hughes Neighborhood, developed between 1921 and the 1950s, is named after well-known business leader Sam Hughes, who was instrumental in establishing Tucson’s free public school system.
Sam Hughes Neighborhood, Tucson
Sam Hughes Neighborhood, Tucson
West University Neighborhood, Tucson
West University Neighborhood includes more than 700 buildings in a great variety of architectural styles, ranging from Transitional to Art Deco, with about half being Craftsman Bungalows.
Feldman's Neighborhood, Tucson
Feldman's Neighborhood, less than a mile from the University of Arizona, was platted in 1901 and includes the first house built on Speedway Boulevard (then called Feldman Street) in 1904.
Feldman's Neighborhood, Tucson
Feldmans Neighborhood, TucsonFeldman's Neighborhood, Tucson
Blenman-Elm Neighborhood, Tucson
Blenman-Elm Neighborhood consists of 17 styles of homes popular between the 1920s and the 1950s, a majority of which are Ranch style with Spanish Revival influences.
