Miracle Mile—Origin of Name

“Miracle Mile was conceived by Arizona Highway Department Engineer Thomas O’Connell with a German autobahn as his model. Fred Guirey designed it and developer Stanley Williamson named it. Among its miraculous qualities is its length- 1.4 miles - a sort of Miracle Mile-Plus.”

Miracle Mile (Street) in Tucson used to be bigger than it is currently. At one time, part of North Oracle Road between West Drachman Street and West Miracle Mile made up Miracle Mile. On February 3, 1987, the Tucson City Council changed the name of North Miracle Mile to North Oracle Road. The name of the street was changed because merchants along Miracle Mile wanted to upgrade the image of the area. Despite glory days, the Miracle Mile name had become associated with prostitutes, strip joints and drugs.

Miracle Mile was listed in the National Register of Historic Places on December 11, 2017.

Sources:

"City Council OKs renaming part of Miracle Mile Strip. Tucson Citizen. February 4, 1987. P1.

“Group not told of meeting on Miracle Mile.” Arizona Daily Star.February 4, 1987. Page B1.

Tucson Lifestyle Magazine. “Streetwise and Stravenued.” October 1985. Page 95.

Tucson's Miracle Mile listed in the National Register of Historic Places, opens a new window | Tucson Historic Preservation Foundation.


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