Queen Creek in Maricopa County, Arizona — The American Mountains (Southwest)

Rittenhouse Elementary School

Photographed by Bill Kirchner, June 26, 2010

1. Rittenhouse Elementary School Marker

Inscription. In 1924 construction of a new schoolhouse began. Classes were being held in an old cook shack that had once been used by muleskinners to clear the land. The school, named after Charles Rittenhouse, would be a three-room, u-shaped building made of Arizona red brick with transom windows. Oak floors were tongue and groove and black boards were real slate. In 1936 restrooms and two more buildings were added to the rear of the building. First heated by steam from a boiler and radiators in the rooms, they were eventually replaced with gas heaters hung from the ceilings.

The school was placed on the Arizona Historical Registry in 1990-then the National Register of Historical Places in 1998-It is under constant restoration by the “San Tan Historical Society”

Erected 2003 by The Lost Dutchman Chapter - E Clampus Vitus.

Topics and series. This historical marker is listed in these topic lists: Architecture • Education. In addition, it is included in the E Clampus Vitus series list. A significant historical year for this entry is 1924.

Location. 33° 15.764′ N, 111° 38.067′ W. Marker is in Queen Creek, Arizona, in Maricopa

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County. It can be reached from South Ellsworth Road south of East Queen Creek Road. Marker is in front of school building that is now used by the “San Tan Historical Society”. Touch for map. Marker is at or near this postal address: 20435 South Ellsworth Road, Queen Creek AZ 85142, United States of America. Touch for directions.

Regionally, this marker is in Arizona’s Sonoran Desert,

in the Phoenix Metropolitan Area,

and in the Tohono O’odham Nation.

It is also in the American Southwest.

Globally, it is in North America,

the Western Hemisphere,

the Western World,

and the Anglosphere.

Historically, it finds itself in what was once New Spain,

the Gadsden Purchase,

and Mexico’s Alta California.

Other nearby markers. At least 8 other markers are within 11 miles of this marker, measured as the crow flies: Engine 1673 (approx. 0.6 miles away); 1912 Parker Carousel (approx. 3.6 miles away); Water Tower (approx. 3.6 miles away); Williams Field Honor Roll, Chandler, Arizona (approx. 4 miles away); Gilbert Elementary School (approx. 10.8 miles away); Gilbert Town Hall (approx. 10.9 miles away); Clement's Garage (approx. 10.9

Rittenhouse Elementary School image. Click for full size.

Photographed by Bill Kirchner, June 26, 2010

2. Rittenhouse Elementary School

Marker is just to the left of sidewalk by flag pole.

miles away); Dance Pavilion (approx. 11 miles away). Touch for a list and map of all markers in Queen Creek.

Photographed by Bill Kirchner, June 26, 2010

3. Rittenhouse Elementary School

Rittenhouse Elementary School NRHP Plaque image. Click for full size.

Photographed by Bill Kirchner, June 26, 2010

4. Rittenhouse Elementary School NRHP Plaque

Credits. This page was last revised on June 28, 2025. It was originally submitted on June 29, 2010, by Bill Kirchner of Tucson, Arizona. This page has been viewed 2,032 times since then and 35 times this year. Photos: 1, 2, 3, 4. submitted on June 29, 2010, by Bill Kirchner of Tucson, Arizona. • Syd Whittle was the editor who published this page.