The Icehouse, now a medium for art installations and occasional
nightlife, was originally called Constable Ice Storage. Opened in 1910,
Constable Ice Storage manufactured 300lb ice blocks to chill food products
while being transported to the East Coast by rail.
Before being transformed into its current state, the Icehouse
served as a storage facility for Phoenix police department criminal
evidence.
The current owner, Helen Hestenes, began transforming
the Icehouse to an art and entertainment venue in 1990. Since then the
Icehouse has been home to an eclectic mix of events and art installations.
Local and national DJs have performed for rave and hip-hop
shows. Scenes from the movie The Kingdom were shot here. And stranger
shows like this
one featuring 30 ton robots breathing fire.