All Tours: 16

The Great Depression

6 Locations ~ Curated by Story Tour Team
A catastrophic economic downturn that began in the summer of 1929 resulted in the decade-long recession called The Great Depression. At its lowest point over 10 million Americans, Arizonans included, were unemployed. State and Federal projects…

Canals

5 Locations ~ Curated by Mark Tebeau & The Story Tour Team
The canals that run throughout the Valley are perhaps the most visible reminders of the complex interactions between human settlement and the environment of the Sonoran Desert. A complex irrigation system conceived and dug by people between the…

Touring the Mid-Century in Scottsdale

5 Locations ~ Curated by Story Tour Team
During the 1950s, the resurgent national economy enabled more Americans to travel in search of recreation and leisure. The Salt River Valley's inviting weather, unique landscapes, and rapidly expanding variety of cultural commodities made it a…

Mill Avenue

13 Locations ~ Curated by Tempe Preservation Foundation
The Mill Avenue historic district reveals stories of the economic and social development of Tempe, including its formation around Hayden's Ferry. The commercial district connects us to the shifting terrains of agriculture, commercial…

Mormon Mesa

9 Locations ~ Curated by Stephen G. Williams
Since the first group of Mormon Pioneers arrived in fifteen wagons in 1877 to found the city of Mesa, members of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints (Mormons) have worked to build and strengthen their community. Over the years Mesa has…

Cactus League Baseball

6 Locations ~ Curated by Connor Hillmann
The Cactus league spans more than eighty years and two states, although it is now centered in central Arizona. The Cactus League is one of two spring training leagues operated by Major League Baseball. The locations included in this tour explore…

Jewish Life in the Valley

8 Locations ~ Curated by Heather Roehl
This tour consists of well known locations known throughout the Salt River Valley, Jewish community. There are two well known department stores that were part of downtown Phoenix and the owners were prominent members of the Jewish community. The…

Tempe Town Lake

8 Locations ~ Curated by Shannon Maki
This tour looks at locations on and around the Tempe Town Lake that have been in the past or are currently vital to the development of the Tempe Town Lake area.

Peoria & Beyond

6 Locations ~ Curated by William Bercu, Ph.D. and the Peoria Historical Society
As communities formed in Southern Arizona, the Railroads were the key to growth and prosperity. The Wickenburg Road, Vulture Road, or what is better known as Grand Avenue paralleled the railroad tracks of the Santa, Prescott and Phoenix Railroad. The…

Old Town Bars and Restaurants

6 Locations ~ Curated by Aidan Solsten
Old Town Scottsdale is famous for its fine cuisine and late night entertainment. This area offers much to choose from, so there's something for everyone. The tough competition can make it difficult to remain in business.

A Journey along the Light Rail

8 Locations ~ Curated by Jay Mark
Journey along the Light Rail, from Mesa to Phoenix and back. Stop and explore the history panels at various stations. Stop and shop at a local store or restaurant. Follow the valley's and Arizona's history as you ride.

Lost Apache

19 Locations ~ Curated by Tempe History Museum + Salt River Stories Team
Apache Boulevard was once the gateway to Tempe for travelers heading west along U.S. Routes 60, 70, 80, and 89, also known locally as the Tempe-Mesa Highway. For more than thirty years, this commercial district served tourists and residents alike.…

Frank Lloyd Wright

6 Locations ~ Curated by Sierra Stewart
Architect Frank Lloyd Wright influenced the mid-century modern architecture movement in the Valley of the Sun through his designs, including but not limited to projects like Taliesin West and Gammage Auditorium.

Carl Hayden

13 Locations ~ Curated by The Salt River Stories Team
Senator Carl Hayden served Arizona from 1927 through 1968, becoming the longest serving Senator in US history at the time he retired. His legislative work transformed every aspect of American life, including especially the Southwest.

ASU Shapes Tempe

12 Locations ~ Curated by The Salt River Stories Team
Arizona State University has changed significantly from its founding at the Arizona Normal School, early in the 20th century. The story of ASU's transformation reveals much about changes in American higher education as well as about Tempe and…