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.
| The Jewish History Museum | |
|---|---|
| Established | 2005 |
| Location | 564 South Stone Avenue, Tucson, AZ 85701-2308 |
| Type | Jewish Museum |
| Collection size | judaica |
| Director | Eileen Warshaw |
| Website | http://www.jewishhistorymuseum.org |
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The Center is housed in the Stone Avenue Temple, built in 1910 by Temple Emanu-El, then called the Hebrew Benevolent Society.[1] 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.[2] The building is listed in on the National Register of Historic Places.[3] Efforts to preserve the synagogue garnered national attention when it received the National Preservation Honor Award from the National Trust for Historic Preservation.[4]
The Museum was created in 2005 by the merger of the Historic Stone Avenue Temple with the Jewish Historical Society of Southern Arizona.[5][6]
In addition to its permanent collection, the Museum hosts exhibitions, lectures and religious events such as Bar Mitzva services. [7][8]