Arizona State University Campus Tour
Architecture, history & things to do near Arizona State University (ASU)
Why Walk Arizona State University Campus
ASU's Tempe campus, the largest of its four metro Phoenix locations, spreads across 661 acres with 'A' Mountain (Tempe Butte) as its visual landmark — the hillside painted with a giant 'A' since 1938. Palm Walk, a half-mile palm tree-lined promenade, is the campus's central artery connecting the Memorial Union to the Fulton Schools of Engineering. Old Main, completed in 1898, is the oldest building and now houses the alumni association. The Gammage Memorial Auditorium, the last major public commission designed by Frank Lloyd Wright (completed posthumously in 1964), is an architecturally significant performing arts venue. The Biodesign Institute buildings house cutting-edge research. Sun Devil Stadium sits in the saddle of the butte. The Nelson Fine Arts Center, designed by Antoine Predock, uses desert colors and forms.
About Arizona State University
Founded
1885 (as the Territorial Normal School at Tempe, 27 years before Arizona statehood; renamed Arizona State University in 1958)
Type
Public research university, part of the Arizona Board of Regents system
Setting
Urban campus in Tempe, in the Phoenix metro area; the main campus sits next to Mill Avenue and is served by the Valley Metro light rail. Additional campuses at Downtown Phoenix, West Valley (Glendale), and Polytechnic (Mesa).
Enrollment
Roughly 145,000 students across all campuses and online, with tens of thousands on the Tempe campus; one of the largest public universities in the U.S. by enrollment
Mascot
Sparky the Sun Devil; teams are the Sun Devils (maroon and gold)
Free Arizona State University Campus Tour with Roamee Pro
Roamee Pro offers a free Arizona State University campus tour with audio narration. Explore Gammage Memorial Auditorium, Palm Walk, 'A' Mountain (Tempe Butte), plus hidden spots like Old Main and Secret Garden, at your own pace without booking a group tour.
explore by interest
Must-See Spots at Arizona State University
- •Gammage Memorial Auditorium — Frank Lloyd Wright's last major public building (1964), a circular auditorium with sweeping desert-inspired lines
- •Palm Walk — the iconic half-mile promenade lined with towering palm trees, the central spine of the Tempe campus
- •'A' Mountain (Tempe Butte) — the volcanic butte on the north edge of campus with a giant painted 'A' and panoramic views of the Valley
- •Nelson Fine Arts Center — Antoine Predock's 1989 desert-inspired building with angular forms and a purple-gray color scheme housing the ASU Art Museum
Signature Architecture
- •ASU Gammage (Grady Gammage Memorial Auditorium) — Designed by Frank Lloyd Wright, completed in 1964 after his death; one of his last major public commissions. A roughly 3,000-seat performing arts hall hosting the touring Broadway series in Tempe.
- •Old Main — The campus's oldest building, completed in 1898. Restored and now used for alumni and administrative offices.
- •Hayden Library — The main Tempe library, originally opened in 1966 and reopened in 2020 after a major renovation that opened up the underground levels and added study and maker spaces.
- •Sun Devil Stadium — Home of Sun Devils football, opened in 1958 between desert buttes near Tempe Butte, seating roughly 53,000 after recent downsizing renovations.
- •Mullett Arena — Multipurpose arena opened in 2022, home of ASU Division I hockey; capacity around 5,000.
Hidden Corners of Arizona State University
- •Old Main — ASU's 1898 Territorial-style original building, now beautifully restored and housing the alumni association and a heritage exhibit
- •Secret Garden — a small hidden courtyard garden between the Language and Literature Building and the Irish Cultural Center, a cool retreat from the desert sun
Notable Alumni
- •Phil Mickelson, professional golfer and three-time Masters champion
- •Pat Tillman, NFL safety who left the league to enlist as an Army Ranger; killed in Afghanistan in 2004
- •Jimmy Kimmel, late-night television host
- •Barbara Barrett, former U.S. Secretary of the Air Force
- •David Spade, actor and comedian
- •Kate Spade, fashion designer
- •Temple Grandin, animal scientist and autism advocate
Campus Traditions
- •Painting and guarding the 'A' on Hayden Butte ('A' Mountain) — students traditionally help whitewash it, with rivalry stories of opponents trying to alter its color
- •The pitchfork hand sign and 'Go Devils' / 'Maroon and Gold' chants at sporting events
- •Curtain of Distraction at men's and women's basketball games — students behind the basket unveil costumed antics to distract opposing free-throw shooters
- •Lantern Walk, an annual homecoming-week tradition dating back over a century, with students walking up 'A' Mountain
- •The Pat Tillman statue outside Sun Devil Stadium, which players touch before games as a tribute
Where to Eat Near Campus
- •Mill Avenue district just west of campus — burgers, pizza, and bars within walking distance
- •Cornish Pasty Co. in the Mill Avenue area, a local favorite known for stuffed pasties
- •The Chuckbox, a longtime Tempe burger joint near campus
- •Memorial Union (the MU) food court on campus for quick student dining
- •Pita Jungle, a Tempe-founded Mediterranean restaurant popular with students
Did you know? ASU Gammage grew out of a plan Frank Lloyd Wright originally drew for an unbuilt opera house in Baghdad, Iraq; after that project fell through, the design was adapted for Tempe and completed in 1964, several years after Wright's death.
Visiting Arizona State University
Prospective students book official campus visits through the ASU admissions site, which offers guided walking tours of the Tempe campus and separate sessions for the Downtown Phoenix, West, and Polytechnic campuses; tours typically last 1.5 to 2 hours and start at the visitor/welcome center. Self-guided options and a campus app/map are available for drop-ins. Visitor parking is in paid structures such as the Fulton Center and Apache Boulevard garages; the Valley Metro light rail is a practical alternative, stopping along Apache Boulevard and near campus. Phoenix Sky Harbor airport is only a few miles away.
Walking Tip
The campus is flat and spread out — Palm Walk is the main orientation axis. Climb 'A' Mountain for the view (a short but steep hike). Gammage Auditorium is on the southeast edge near Apache Boulevard. Tempe's Mill Avenue is adjacent for dining.
Best Time to Visit
October through April for pleasant desert weather. Avoid May through September when temperatures exceed 100°F regularly. Sunset from 'A' Mountain is memorable. Football Saturdays in fall are festive.
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