Did you know that the Arizona State University Art Museum started as a small display of books? Today, it has become a stunning collection of contemporary American and British ceramics, among other works of art. The museum has over 12,000 pieces in its permanent collection, with over 10,000 square feet of exhibition space in five extensive galleries. One of the unique features of the museum is its focus on contemporary artists and Latin American Art.
Escape the hustle and bustle of the city by taking a self-guided quarter-mile nature trail that features over 1,500 recorded petroglyphs on nearly 600 boulders, native desert plants, and animals in their natural habitat at the Deer Valley Petroglyph Preserve. The preserve also has historical research data and displays of ongoing Southwest archaeology research by ASU faculty and students. The museum, gallery, trail, and free audio tour are available for the petroglyph trail. The university has been operating, protecting, and preserving the site since 1994, and there are plenty of opportunities to explore and learn more about the area and indigenous cultures through guided tours, publications, and ongoing lecture series.