“Pokemon Go” is a great incentive to move about and see what’s around you, and mass amounts of stops and lures populate ASU campuses — the destinations of which range from the historical to the familiar, the small to the big.
Active environments like shopping centers, historical places and the like, have more than enough Pokestops to visit and acquire items, and if one is especially lucky, some enterprising fellow may have dropped a “lure” at the Stop.
So it's no surprise that ASU's campuses are the perfect place to catch 'em all. Taking a trek through the entire campus might be daunting, but visiting many of them not only shows what the campus has to offer in terms of hidden gems, but also in historical legacy.
Here are a few of the more interesting Pokestops to visit during your next campus-wide hunt:
Tempe
1. Old Church (Catholic Newman Center)
According to the Church’s website (and info from the Stop itself), the Newman Center was built in 1903. It was the first Catholic church to reside in Arizona, as it was built prior to the area’s upgrade from territory to statehood. San Pablo’s Hispanic community built an adobe church that was named St. Mary’s and dedicated to Our Lady of Mt. Carmel.
Over a hundred years later, and after numerous additions including a moveable parish and Catholic school, the “Old Church” is still used for mass, weddings and baptisms.
2. Virginia G. Piper Writer’s House
A landmark dedicated to writer, philanthropist and journalist Virginia Galvin Piper, the Writer’s House is a few steps away from Old Main and houses the Center for Creative Writing. The house was built in 1907, and it housed presidents of the University until 1959. Aside from classes, the house also holds the Piper Writer’s Studio, reception areas and an outdoor performance area.
Born in 1911, Piper devoted much of her life to philanthropy. She established the Paul V. Galvin Heart Center in Evanston, Illinois, in the name of her late husband, and she supported scholarships at DePaul University in Chicago, and St. Mary-of-the-Woods College in Minnesota. A devout Catholic, Piper passed away in June 14, 1999, in Paradise Valley.
3. Rattlesnake Museum (Life Sciences Building A)
A collection of live rattlesnakes inhabit this wing of the Life Science building, essentially turning the hallway into a miniature zoo. Among the slithering reptiles are an Arizona Black Rattlesnake and a Southwestern Speckled Rattlesnake, as well as Hector and Bianca — a father and daughter duo of western diamond-backed albino rattlesnakes.
4. Triceratops Skull and Mars Rover Model (ISTB4)
Two separate stops inhabit the Interdisciplinary Science and Technology Building IV – a scale-size replica of NASA’s Mars Rover and a Triceratops Skull found in the Hell Creek Formation of Montana.
A recent addition to the school in 2012, the building is the largest research center on campus, reaching upwards of 300,000 square feet in area size.
Various schools of study are housed there, ranging from the School of Earth and Space Exploration, to the School of Biological and Health Systems Engineering. If you’re passing through, take note of the exhibits that dot the first and second floors, one of which is an interactive globe that displays the planets of our solar system with a few taps of a touchscreen display.
5. Old Main
Well known among students and faculty alike, Old Main was originally dedicated in February 4, 1898, and was first building in Tempe to have electric lighting. It currently houses the ASU Alumni Association, which led a $5.7 million campaign for its restoration.
President Theodore Roosevelt stood on the steps of Old Main to dedicate the Roosevelt Dam in 1911, and the locale was added to the National Register of Historic Places in 1985.
Downtown Phoenix
Downtown Phoenix is overflowing with a vibrant mix of art and history. It's no surprise that Pokemon Go has taken advantage of all the trendy hotspots to provide residents and visitors alike just one more reason to explore the streets of the city. Here are five of the best spots near (or on) the ASU Downtown campus:
6. Civic Space Park
Located in between the A.E. England building and the Post Office/Student Center, Civic Space Park is the perfect place to grab some sunshine and a perhaps even a bite to eat at the Fair Trade Cafe.
It's also the perfect place to catch Pokemon, with a gym and four Pokestops that often feature lures. Camp out in a shady spot underneath the giant steel sculpture, "Her Secret is Patience," and the Pokemon will basically come to you.
7. The University Center Library Safe
Deep in the catacombs of the University Center is a library with plenty of space to study, read or nap in between classes. In addition to all the books, there's an underground safe that makes Gringotts look unsecured.
Fortunately, for those who don't feel like donning an Indiana Jones-esque fedora and knapsack to venture underground into the Temple of Knowledge, the Pokestop can be reached just by entering the UCENT on the first floor.
8. The Cronkite Building
The Walter Cronkite School of Journalism houses one of the country's top collegiate journalism schools, a variety of professional programs, and the broadcasting center for Arizona PBS. Even if you're not looking to become a news anchor or a Woodward and Bernstein-style journalist, this building is still a great place to grab items.
9. Taylor Place
Downtown students debating between on versus off-campus living should keep in mind that there are four Pokestops on the block surrounding Taylor Place. The fact that it's possible to catch Pokemon and level up from the comfort of the dorm room may motivate some students to stay on campus for an extra year or two.
10. Valley Youth Theatre
Just steps away from Taylor Place and the Downtown academic buildings, the Valley Youth Theatre is a staple of the local arts community. It was founded in 1989 and has helped hundreds of young performers get their first taste of the spotlight, including alumni Jordin Sparks and Emma Stone.
While collecting the items and XP from the theater's Pokestop, you might as well stop in for a show. The VYT 2016-2017 season includes productions of Grease, Charlotte's Web (the Musical), A Winnie-the-Pooh Christmas Tail, Alice in Wonderland, The Secret Garden (the Musical) and The Wizard of Oz.
Reach the reporter at djulienr@asu.edu or follow @legendpenguin on Twitter.
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