Petersen House Museum
Niels Petersen, one of the Valley's pioneer farmers, came to
the Tempe area in 1871. This young Danish immigrant homesteaded on 160 acres south of
town. After years of hard work, he turned the desert land into a sprawling ranch. He also
became a leading businessman and community leader of Tempe.
 In
1892, Mr. Petersen built a spacious two-story Queen Anne Victorian house on his ranch. It
was one of the most elegant homes in the Salt River Valley. The building shows its
original 1890s appearance, as well as changes that were made in a 1930 remodeling. It is a
striking example of period architecture, with gables, porches, balconies, bay windows and
12-foot ceilings. Interior features include gold-leaf picture railing and hand-stenciled
wallpaper borders, and all rooms are furnished to recreate the setting of the past. For
more detailed information on the Petersen House, see the Historic
Property Survey record.
The Petersen House was donated to the City of Tempe in 1979. After an extensive
restoration of the building, it received the 1990 Governor's Award for Historic
Preservation. The Petersen House is listed on the National Register of Historic Places.
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