This elegant Mission Revival style, stucco-covered brick structure was completed in 1907 by the architect David Holmes. Its primary residents, the Corbett family, lived in the home for fifty-six years. J. Knox Corbett and his wife Lizzie Hughes Corbett built the house on Main Avenue, next to the Stevens House. Petra Stevens, Lizzie’s aunt and godmother, appealed to Lizzie Corbett to live near her and gifted her land adjacent to the Stevens property. In its heyday, the Corbett House served as a social hub: the family enjoyed hosting parties, clubs, and civic meetings for many years.

Originally, the house was furnished with rich mahogany furniture and European imports. An elaborately carved buffet made by one of the Corbett’s employees still resides in the dining room. The house has a full basement which once housed a water cooling tower, one of Tucson’s first air conditioning systems. Upstairs, in a small attic room, legend has it that gin was manufactured during the era of prohibition.

The house was restored in 1995. Sadly, this historic structure suffered extensive damage from a fire which was started in a nearby outdoor recycle bin, in 2023. The current restoration project is underway with the help of BWS Architects and Kittle Design & Construction. We look forward to reopening this beautiful property in 2025.