Jewish History Museum (Tucson)
Encyclopedia
The Jewish History Museum, formerly known as the Jewish Heritage Center of the Southwest is a museum housed in an historic synagogue building in Tucson, Arizona. The museum's building, which housed the first synagogue in the Arizona Territory, is the oldest synagogue building
in the state.
, then called the Hebrew Benevolent Society. The historic synagogue is a brick structure designed by architect Ely Blount. Blount blended a pedimented, pilastered Greek revival facade with rounded windows and twin towers in Rundbogenstil
style. In 1937 the building was covered with stucco. The original stained-glass windows have been lost. The building is listed in on the National Register of Historic Places
. Efforts to preserve the synagogue garnered national attention when it received the National Preservation Honor Award from the National Trust for Historic Preservation.
In addition to its permanent collection, the Museum hosts exhibitions, lectures and religious events such as Bar Mitzva services.
Oldest synagogues in the United States
The designation of the oldest synagogue in the United States requires careful use of definitions, and must be divided into two parts, the oldest in the sense of oldest surviving building, and the oldest in the sense of oldest congregation...
in the state.
Stone Avenue Temple
The Center is housed in the Stone Avenue Temple, built in 1910 by Temple Emanu-ElTemple Emanu-El (Tucson)
Temple Emanu-El is a Reform synagogue in Tucson, Arizona. It was the first synagogue in the Arizona Territory and is the oldest congregation in the state; Emanuel's original building, known as the Stone Avenue Temple, is the oldest synagogue building in Arizona.-History:Although the Jewish...
, then called the Hebrew Benevolent Society. The historic synagogue is a brick structure designed by architect Ely Blount. Blount blended a pedimented, pilastered Greek revival facade with rounded windows and twin towers in Rundbogenstil
Rundbogenstil
Rundbogenstil , one of the nineteenth-century historic revival styles of architecture, is a variety of Romanesque revival popular in the German-speaking lands and the German diaspora....
style. In 1937 the building was covered with stucco. The original stained-glass windows have been lost. The building is listed in on the National Register of Historic Places
National Register of Historic Places
The National Register of Historic Places is the United States government's official list of districts, sites, buildings, structures, and objects deemed worthy of preservation...
. Efforts to preserve the synagogue garnered national attention when it received the National Preservation Honor Award from the National Trust for Historic Preservation.
The Museum
The Museum was created in 2005 by the merger of the Historic Stone Avenue Temple with the Jewish Historical Society of Southern Arizona.In addition to its permanent collection, the Museum hosts exhibitions, lectures and religious events such as Bar Mitzva services.
See also
- Temple Emanu-El (Tucson)Temple Emanu-El (Tucson)Temple Emanu-El is a Reform synagogue in Tucson, Arizona. It was the first synagogue in the Arizona Territory and is the oldest congregation in the state; Emanuel's original building, known as the Stone Avenue Temple, is the oldest synagogue building in Arizona.-History:Although the Jewish...
- Tucson Hebrew AcademyTucson Hebrew AcademyTucson Hebrew Academy is a nationally accredited Jewish day school in Tucson, Arizona.. -History:The school was founded in 1973, and prior to 1994, it was located within Congregation Anshei Israel. The school is now located on the Volk Jewish Community Campus, which also houses the , and...
- Holocaust and Tolerance MuseumHolocaust and Tolerance MuseumThe Holocaust and Tolerance Museum is a museum to be built in Chandler, Arizona. It will focus on history of the Holocaust with exhibits designed to expose past and present examples of prejudice, genocide and inhumanity around the globe while teaching racial and cultural tolerance.-Building:Plans...