Sandra Day O’Connor House in Tempe recognized as historic place
Onetime Arizona legislator and Supreme Court Justice Sandra Day O’Connor’s mark on American history is so pervasive that even her former house is honored by historians.
The Arizona State Historic Preservation Office announced Friday that O’Connor’s home in Tempe is now on the National Register of Historic Places. This makes O’Connor’s home a property considered worthy of preservation.
“With this designation, this important piece of Arizona history will be protected for generations to come,” Gov. Doug Ducey said in a tweet.
The O’Connor house was originally built in 1958 in Papago Park. It was relocated to Tempe in 2009. Today, it’s the home of the Sandra Day O’Connor Institute.
The State Historic Preservation Office nominated the home to be recognized earlier this year, saying it’s “the place she herself testifies was crucial to her rise in politics and around which the local community has committed to preserving to continue her legacy of service to Arizona and the nation.”
Republican Sen. Martha McSally and Democratic Sen. Krysten Sinema helped move the designation along.
On May 21, McSally wrote a letter to Acting Associate Director Joy Beasley asking for the house to be listed on the National Register.
“Sandra Day O’Connor is a trailblazer who had an immeasurable impact on not only our country, but our state as well,” McSally said in a press release. “I applaud the National Park Service for recognizing her contribution to Arizona and taking the appropriate steps to preserve her legacy for generations to come.”
Sinema also wrote to the Park Service in May, asking them to list the house on the National Register to honor O’Connor’s legacy.
“Sandra Day O’Connor is one of my heroes; she committed her life to civil discourse and paved the way for women to pursue a career in public service. Her home represents her work as a consensus builder and I am glad to see it rightfully placed on the National Register of Historic Places,” Sinema said in a statement.
The office’s nomination was approved by the Arizona Historic Sites Review Committee on March 22.