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Chandler Train DepotHistory
Chandler, Arizona 
 
The City of Chandler is committed to preserving, interpreting and making history available to the community.

Remembering our City’s past while creating roots for new families and generations is critical as Chandler transforms from a quiet farm town to one of the largest urban cities in the West.
 

  In 1891, Dr. A.J. Chandler bought 80 acres of desert land from the federal government on the south side of the Salt River Valley. Today, the City of Chandler stretches 70 square miles, has 90,000 homes, 240,000 residents, and a dynamic industrial and retail business base. How did we get from there to here? 
     
  

 

The City's Public History Program focuses on presenting Chandler’s history to the public through outreach programs, especially through collaboration between the community and the City. Public history projects collect, preserve, and explore the stories of our past, and of our diverse heritage. Program highlights include:
   
 

Chandler's history and heritage is on display: from the ancient cultures who lived here thousands of years ago, to the bold dreams of Dr. A.J. Chandler, and the transition from a quiet farming area to the high-tech family community of today.
   
 

This historic residence serves as the City's official Visitors Center, a gallery, and special event facility. In 2001, members of the Price-Propstra family donated this Pueblo Revival style home, built in 1938, to the City of Chandler. It was renovated and opened to the public in June 2007. 
     
 

Preserving old photos and memorabilia is an important part of preserving Chandler’s past. The City's Public Hstory Coordinator is accepting loans or donations of photographs and other items of historical interest for our archives. 
     
 

Collections of photographs and profiles highlighting men and women of Chandler and their many contributions to the community. 
     
 

Chandler culture is enhanced by its museums, public and private art galleries, and its many exhibits of publicly funded works of art. Some of these artworks express aspects of Chandler's history.