Phoenix high school student creates deck of playing cards featuring local historic landmarks

PHOENIX - May 1, 2013 - PRLog -- Alexandra Dee Melikian, a junior at Phoenix Country Day School, has created a deck of playing cards featuring historic landmarks in her hometown and Arizona’s capital city, Phoenix. Each playing card and the two Joker cards feature an original color photograph of one of 54 historic landmarks in the city of Phoenix. The cards also feature the building’s name, address, and date of construction.

Alexandra came up with the idea because of her love of photography and her family’s interest in history and historic preservation. Her father, Robert A. Melikian, is co-owner of the historic Hotel San Carlos in downtown Phoenix (the three of clubs in the deck of cards) and author of “Vanishing Phoenix,” a book about Phoenix’s demolished historic buildings published by Arcadia Publishing.

While enjoying their favorite game of cards, players can learn more about Phoenix’s historic past. Individuals and families walking, taking light rail, or driving around the city can locate the buildings using the cards as their guide.

“Grab you GPS, and go on a treasure hunt for some of Phoenix's most interesting and beautiful buildings. You'll be surprised how much history our city has,” says Alexandra.

The playing cards are available online at Amazon.com, Phoenix Art Museum, Hotel San Carlos, and more sales outlets to be announced. The retail price is $10 with five percent of the proceeds donated to the Arizona Preservation Foundation, the state’s not-for-profit historic preservation organization.

"We were elated when Alexandra approached the Foundation with her unique idea and included our organization as a beneficiary. Funds raised from sale proceeds will be directed toward our public outreach and education efforts statewide," said Jim McPherson, board president of the Arizona Preservation Foundation.

FOR MORE INFORMATION

Visit http://explorehistorycards.com for details, photos, and an interactive map. Click on http://explorehistorycards.com/?page_id=73 to contact Alexandra Dee Melikian directly. Visit http://azpreservation.org to learn more about historic preservation in Arizona.