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Tempe, Arizona

Following the establishment of Fort McDowell on the eastern edge of central Arizona’s Salt River Valley in 1865, enterprising farmers moved into the area. They dug out the irrigation canals left by the prehistoric Hohokam people and built new ones to carry Salt River water to their fields. Valley farms soon supplied food to Arizona’s military posts and mining towns.

The first settlers to move to the Tempe area, south of the Salt River and east of Phoenix, were Hispanic families from southern Arizona. They helped construct the first two irrigation canals, the Kirkland-McKinney Ditch and the San Francisco Canal, and started small farms to the east and west of a large butte (Tempe Butte). In 1872, some of these Mexican settlers founded a town called San Pablo east of Tempe Butte.

Tempe is well known nationally as the home of the Fiesta Bowl and the Arizona Cardinals. It is the seventh largest city in Arizona, with a strong modern economy based on commerce, tourism, and electronics manufacturing.

Attractions and Upcoming Events

ASU Planetarium

Evening shows are offered Tuesday and Thursday nights from Sept.-Nov. and Feb.-April. Shows begin promptly at 6:30 p.m. and last approximately 30 to 50 minutes. Weather permitting; viewing though ASU telescopes follows each show. Reservations are required for all evening shows.

Tempe, AZ Planetariums

ASU Karsten Golf Course

Championship par-72 layout designed by Pete Dye in the Scottish links and stadium tradition, offering an exceptional tournament-caliber golfing experience. Banquet facilities/club house available for groups of 30-150

Tempe, AZ Golf Courses

Rio Lago Cruise

Boat tours, charters and rentals. Boats available for large and small events. Pedal boats, ocean kayaks and charter boats. Call for rates and packages.

Tempe, AZ Cruises

R.S. Dietz Museum of Geology (ASU)

Physical Sciences Complex, Wing F Minerals, gems, dinosaurs and other fossils; the only active seismograph in central Arizona and a 6

Tempe, AZ Museums

Tempe Town Lake

Tempe Town Lake, located adjacent to Downtown Tempe, provides a 2-mile recreational haven for kayaking, sailing, rowing, jogging, skating or picnicking.

Tempe, AZ Recreation

Things to do near Tempe, AZ

Springfield Golf Club

This eighteen hole executive course is traditional in design and features a slight mixture of desert-style holes. A majority ...

Arboretum at ASU

Arizona's largest public urban arboretum, ASU's Arboretum has the largest public date palm collection in North America and is...

Willowcreek Golf Course -Willowbrook

Course Access: PrivateHoles: 18Reserve Advance Tee Times: 1 days...