Photos of Tucson's Historic El Conquistador Hotel, demolished in 1968
The historic El Conquistador Hotel, designed by Annie Graham Rockfellow, opened in 1928 and was demolished in 1968 to make way for the expansion of El Con Shopping Center, now known as El Con Mall.
All photos © Arizona Daily Star or Tucson Citizen
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El Conquistador Hotel
Aerial photo of the El Conquistador Hotel taken in 1940. The hotel would share the property with El Con Shopping Center to the east (right) after the property was sold in 1957. The El Conquistador opened in 1928, was torn down in 1968.
El Conquistador Hotel
The El Conquistador Hotel in January, 1963. The hotel was designed by architect Annie Graham Rockfellow, who graduated from M.I.T. and taught at the University of Arizona prior to joining architect Henry O. Jaastad's firm in Tucson. She also designed the first buildings for the Desert Sanatorium, now Tucson Medical Center, and numerous homes and churches in Tucson and Southern Arizona.
El Conquistador Hotel
A Royal typewriter with hotel stationary behind the front desk of the abandoned El Conquistador Hotel in March, 1968, awaiting demolition.
El Conquistador Hotel
Aerial view of the El Conquistador Hotel in 1954. The hotel would share the property with El Con Shopping Center to the east (right) after the property was sold in 1957. The "open-air mall" began taking shape in 1959. The marriage didn't last and the hotel was closed by 1964 and demolished in 1968 to make way for the mall footprint in existence today.
El Conquistador Hotel
Cast iron tubs and other bathroom fixtures salvaged from the abandoned El Conquistador Hotel in March, 1968, as it was undergoing demolition. The tower shows the building's Mission-style architecture.
El Conquistador Hotel
The pool at El Conquistador Hotel around 194l.
El Conquistador Hotel
El Conquistador Hotel and grounds on Aug. 15, 1951.
El Conquistador Hotel
Eagles adorned the porte-cochere (carriage porch) outside the lobby of the El Conquistador Hotel. Photo taken March, 1968, when hotel was awaiting demolition.
El Conquistador Hotel
The nearly empty pool behind the abandoned El Conquistador Hotel in March, 1968, awaiting demolition. The hotel was built on 120-acres, so there was plenty of for the pool, casitas, tennis courts and a riding stable. The pool was constructed years after the original hotel opened.
El Conquistador Hotel
Historic bathroom fixtures, windows and doors salvaged from the hotel before demolition sit in the lobby of El Conquistador Hotel in March, 1968.
El Conquistador Hotel
The boarded-up windows below the Terrace Lounge sign, which beckoned bar patrons but stands silent in 1968 at the abandoned El Conquistador Hotel.
El Conquistador Hotel
The El Con Shopping Center during construction in August, 1961. As designed, it was open to outside air at both ends. It had "indirect air conditioning," according to the Tucson Citizen, "with cool air released through entrances to stores on either side." The original tenants included Woolworth's, Kresge, El Rancho Market, Lerner's, House of Fabric, GallenKamp Shoes and Kinney Shoes.
El Conquistador Hotel
El Con mall in January, 1972, shortly after it was enclosed after more than 10 years as an open-air mall.
Rick Wiley
Photo editor
Rick Wiley is the photo editor of the Arizona Daily Star in Tucson. From 1995-2004, he was director of photography at the East Valley Tribune in Mesa. From 1988-94 he was a photographer at the Tucson Citizen. He is a graduate of ASU (yes, that ASU).
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