It is hard to imagine today, but Phoenix existed for decades before air conditioning became common. In the early 1900s, summers in the Valley were just as hot as they are now, yet residents relied on creative ways to stay comfortable in the desert heat.

Homes were designed differently back then. Many houses included large shaded porches and “sleeping porches,” where families would spend the night outdoors to catch cooler air. Thick adobe or masonry walls helped keep interiors cooler during the day, while tall ceilings and shaded windows allowed heat to rise and escape. Businesses often closed during the hottest hours of the afternoon, and daily life slowed down until evening.

Before modern AC systems became widespread in the 1950s, many homes used evaporative coolers, often called swamp coolers. These units pulled outside air through wet pads, lowering the temperature before blowing the air inside. While they worked best in the dry desert climate, they were still a far cry from today’s refrigerated air.

Air conditioning ultimately transformed Phoenix. Once homes, offices, and shopping centers could stay cool through the summer, population growth accelerated rapidly. In many ways, modern Phoenix owes its explosive growth to one invention that made desert living comfortable year round.

Some of the images you see in the newsletter are created using modern AI image tools. Whenever possible, I use my own photos from around Sun City and the West Valley, but sometimes it is helpful to generate an image that better illustrates a story or historical topic. These images are used simply to supplement the articles and help tell the story visually, not to mislead or deceive readers.