Sandra Day O'Connor House facts for kids
Quick facts for kids |
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Sandra Day O'Connor House
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 Location in Arizona
Location in the United States
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| Location | 1230 North College Avenue, Tempe, Arizona |
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| Built | 1957 |
| Architect | D.K. Taylor |
| Restored | 2000 |
| Restored by | Sandra Day O'Connor Institute |
| NRHP reference No. | 100004185 |
| Added to NRHP | July 20, 2019 |
The Sandra Day O'Connor House is a special historic home. It belonged to Sandra Day O'Connor, who was the first woman to become a U.S. Supreme Court Justice. She was a very important judge from Arizona.
The house was first built in Paradise Valley, Arizona. But in 2007–2009, it was carefully moved to Tempe. Now, it is the home of the Sandra Day O'Connor Institute. This house was added to the National Register of Historic Places in 2019. This means it's recognized as an important historical place.
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The Sandra Day O'Connor House: A Special Home
What Does the House Look Like?
The house was built in 1957. It was made from adobe bricks. These bricks came from mud found near the Salt River. It is a one-story house with three bedrooms. It has large windows that go from the floor to the ceiling. The house is about 1,700 square feet big.
The design of the house is called "mid-century modern." It was inspired by famous architect Frank Lloyd Wright. Sandra Day O'Connor and her husband even helped lay some of the bricks. They also put skim milk on the bricks to help protect them. The house was originally located in Paradise Valley, which is a town near Phoenix.
The large windows help connect the inside of the house to the outside. Big overhangs keep the desert sun out. The house also has exposed adobe bricks inside. It has red concrete floors and wooden beams that you can see. Sandra Day O'Connor wanted the house to remind her of her childhood home. That home was an adobe ranch house in Duncan, Arizona.
Moving a Historic House
After the O'Connors moved out, a new owner wanted to tear down the house. They wanted to build a bigger home. But people wanted to save this special house. They raised $2 million to move it.
In 2007, the house was taken apart. Each adobe brick was carefully removed. Each brick was given a number. Then, they were stacked up to be moved to the new spot. Other parts of the house were moved in big pieces.
In May 2008, the city of Tempe agreed to give land in Papago Park for the house. The house was put back together in 2009. It was rebuilt facing the same direction as it did originally.
The house is now in the Carl Hayden Campus for Sustainability. It is next to the Arizona Historical Society Museum. From the house, you can see the city of Tempe and the Salt River. A landscape architect named Christy Ten Eyck designed the area around the house.
Life in the O'Connor House
Sandra Day O'Connor lived in this house from 1958 to 1981. In 1981, President Ronald Reagan chose her to be a Supreme Court Justice.
While she lived there, O'Connor often had important political people visit. Guests included U.S. Senator Barry Goldwater. Former Democratic governor Bruce Babbitt also visited. Kathryn Leonard, who works to preserve Arizona's history, said: "Anyone who was anyone in Arizona politics in the 1960s, 1970s was in that house having dinner with Justice O'Connor."
Important Guests and Dinners
Sandra Day O'Connor loved to cook. She especially liked making Mexican food, like chalupas. The O'Connors often served their guests on the large patio.
According to Kathryn Leonard, this was a place for important talks. People would eat together and get to know each other. O'Connor believed that almost any problem could be solved over a friendly dinner.
Why Is This House Important?
The Sandra Day O'Connor Institute and the Arizona State Historic Preservation Office worked for about ten years to get the house listed. They wanted it on the National Register of Historic Places. It was hard because the house had been moved. Usually, the National Park Service does not list properties that have been moved. They also don't usually list places connected to a living person.
But supporters argued that Sandra Day O'Connor helped with the move and changes. They said the building is now used to teach people about good citizenship. The institute uses the house for workshops, meetings, and special events.
Kathryn Leonard said that Justice O'Connor is a very famous and important person. She said this made it easier to convince the National Register people. Matt Feeney, who leads the O'Connor Institute, said the house shows her character. He said it shows her goal of having polite discussions.
Arizona's senators, Martha McSally and Kyrsten Sinema, also supported listing the house. McSally hoped it would "preserve her legacy for generations to come."
Sandra Day O'Connor's Amazing Career
Even though the house was moved, it was still important enough to be listed. It is the most important place still existing that is connected to Sandra Day O'Connor. She is one of Arizona's most famous and powerful public figures.
She worked as Arizona's attorney general for four years. Then, she was chosen for the Arizona Senate in 1969. She won reelection twice. In 1972, she became the Senate majority leader. She was the first woman in any state to hold that position.
After the Senate, she became a judge in Maricopa County. Then she served on the Arizona Court of Appeals. When she became the first woman on the Supreme Court, she became famous across the country. In 2009, she received the Presidential Medal of Freedom. This is the highest award a civilian can get in the United States.
