ASU Shapes Tempe
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 the broader landscapes of the Phoenix-Mesa metropolitan region. We get a sense of how the campus has changed, how it might have been experienced differently in the past, as well as about the changes in American universities. More broadly, though ASU has changed with the region, and sought to shape the region's growth and development. It has played a vital role in that change, and we see that influence as well. This tour takes us through both the University's history but also through its connections to the community and the region.
Sun Devil Stadium
A Coming of Age for Arizona State University
Sun Devil Stadium grew with the University it supports. As Arizona State University grew from a small teacher's college into the University it is today, likewise Sun Devil Stadium became a professional location for sports, concerts, and more.
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Alpha Drive Construction
The Lost Community of ASU
On the Southeast corner of University Drive and Rural Road lies an empty thirteen-acre plot of land surrounded by construction fences, sporting arenas, bustling traffic, and freshman dorms.
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Alpha Drive Destroyed
Fraternity Housing Reimagined
Alpha Drive was a symbol of Arizona State University's 'party school' reputation, and its demolition signifies the change and expansion that the University sought.
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The Stalwart Pioneer
Uncovering the Legacy of Cresencio "Chris" Sigala
From Mexico to Arizona, Sigala's journey reflects the complex dynamics many Hispanic pioneers faced and exemplifies their significant contributions in shaping the Southwest.
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San Pablo
A Local Community Erased
The area in Tempe between College Avenue and Veterans Way, on the north side of University Drive, is currently home to several Arizona State University (ASU) buildings such as the Fulton Center, Mona Plummer Aquatic Center, as well as several popular restaurants. The triangular shaped area has also…
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Cooling the Desert
The Secret Infrastructure of Arizona State University
Searing heat scorches Tempe, Arizona and the Sonoran Desert from May through September, and the only beacon of relief from the oppressive heat is air conditioning. With a tap of the thermostat…presto, the magic of chilled air wafts from our vents. Without the emergence of air conditioning, the…
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Hayden Library
A Lasting Legacy Lives On
Dedicated in 1966, the Charles Trumbull Hayden Library stands at the center of the Arizona State University Tempe campus. Presently under renovation, the Library's unique and changing architecture--including an underground entrance and lantern skylight protruding from the lawn--seeks to create a bridge between past and present on the campus.
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Goodwin Stadium
Transitioning ASU into the Present
The games played during Goodwin Stadium's 19 years as ASU's football stadium would have profound consequences and shape the identity of the school.
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Gammage Auditorium and the Baghdad Opera House
Wright's Dream Reimagined
It all began with two men. One, is a master architect. The other, is a university president leading a small school toward becoming a major university. Gammage Auditorium resulted from that collaboration--becoming a symbol for ASU and Tempe and emerging as a representation of Wright's enduring…
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Gammage Auditorium
An ASU Icon Since 1964
In 1926, well-known architect Frank Lloyd Wright was called to Phoenix to help with the building of the Arizona Biltmore Hotel. This was the beginning of Wright's long relationship with Arizona. In the early 1960s, Arizona State University President Grady Gammage wanted Wright to bring a new…
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Wigwam Auto Court
Iconic architecture captured the imagination of Arizona's tourists
The distinctive Teepee designs were dotted along famed Route 66, and Arizona's Wigwam Auto Court was iconic on the Mesa Tempe "opportunity road".
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Victory Acres
Building a Tempe Barrio
The Victory Acres neighborhood of Tempe highlights the unique story of Mexican-American suburbanization. La Victoria, a tight-knit, predominantly Mexican American, community, emerged during the post-War growth of Tempe and the surrounding region. La Victoria is the story of the perseverance of…
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Tour imagined in Fall 2018 by students in HST 485 (History in the Wild): Sophia Bonacorda, Kaitlyn Burnham, Mandy Hall, Jason Horn, Austin Keating, Nicole McCanless, Cody Smith, Rachel Stever, Brittney Sweet, Hugo Villagrana. The team wishes to thank the Tempe History Museum--especially Josh Roffler and Jared Smith, Jay Mark, the ASU Libraries--especially Ed Oetting and Robert Spindler, Dr. Christine Marin, and David Schaetzle.