Entry No. 5 — the Phoenix file — filed under: tomb
Hunt's Tomb
A stark white pyramid on top of a red-rock butte, built in 1931 by seven-term Governor George W.P. Hunt to entomb his wife; he joined her there in 1934, along with in-laws and a daughter. It's fenced, free, and hikeable, and Hunt — a famous populist who hated pretense — got, in the end, the most conspicuous grave marker in the state.
The story
George W.P. Hunt was Arizona's first governor and a legendary political force who held the office for seven non-consecutive terms. He was a populist who cultivated a ruthless anti-elitist image, famously railing against corporate privilege and aristocratic pretense. Yet sitting high atop a crimson sandstone hill in Papago Park is a stark, bright-white pyramid where he chose to spend eternity in plain view of the whole city.
Hunt commissioned the tomb in 1931 following the death of his wife, Helen Duett Ellison Hunt. Taking cues from the Egyptian revival trend sweeping the country, the white concrete pyramid was erected on a prominent Papago Park ridge. When Hunt passed away in 1934, he was interred inside beside his wife, along with her parents and their daughter, Virginia.
The historical irony is hard to miss: a self-proclaimed champion of the humble working man built what is easily the most conspicuous, pharaonic grave marker in the state of Arizona. From its perch above the valley floor, the stark white apex catches the desert light and looks directly out over the Phoenix skyline Hunt helped shape.
What it's like
You'll park near the Phoenix Zoo perimeter in Papago Park and take a short, paved walk up a moderately steep incline. The tomb sits behind a protective fence at the summit, meaning you can't step inside the pyramid itself, but you can walk around the perimeter, read the historical marker, and look directly down into the zoo or across to Hole-in-the-Rock. Visit at golden hour when the setting sun hits the red rocks and illuminates downtown Phoenix in the distance.
The move: Hike the short, steep trail up to the pyramid at golden hour, sit on the hillside facing downtown, and pick out the skyline Hunt supposedly wanted his tomb to overlook.
- 📍 Papago Park, Phoenix
- 💸 $$
- ⚡ Up for anything
- 🌗 Indoors
Where: 625 N Galvin Pkwy, Phoenix, AZ 85008
Hours: Added 2026-07-19 — confirm current hours before you go.
Pair it with
- Great Papago Escape Tunnel Marker — Stay inside Papago Park and walk half a mile to the site where 25 German POWs pulled off the largest prison breakout on U.S. soil during WWII.
- Hall of Flame Museum of Firefighting — Pair a monument to Arizona's first governor with a massive collection of historic fire engines located just down the road.
- El Molino Mexican Cafe at the Scottsdale Elks Lodge (former POW Officers' Club) — Grab lunch inside Building #40, the former officers' club for the nearby Papago Park WWII POW camp.
Good to know
Is there a fee to visit Hunt's Tomb?
No, access to the trail and the tomb area within Papago Park is completely free.
Can you enter the inside of the pyramid?
No. The tomb is permanently sealed and protected behind a chain-link fence, though you can walk right up to the barrier.
Who is buried inside the tomb?
The tomb holds Arizona's first governor, George W.P. Hunt, his wife Helen, her parents, and their daughter Virginia.
How difficult is the hike up to the tomb?
It's a very short, paved walk up a hill. While it has a slight incline, it's accessible for most fitness levels and takes only a few minutes from the nearest parking area.
Plan a visit & invite your people →
Further reading: Wikipedia · Roadside America · phoenix.gov · Atlas Obscura · saltriverstories.org · historical-markers.arizonadar.org
last checked: 2026-07-19