May 14, 2019 - March 29, 2020

Exhibit Overview

Mill Avenue. Not just a street in Tempe, Arizona. Mill is THE street - the Avenue synonymous with Tempe.

If you have spent enough time on Mill Avenue to connect to it, you may feel a complicated range of emotions. Is it your favorite destination? Do you like where it is headed? Or is it too corporate now? Was it too run-down and seedy in the 70’s? Do you love those historic buildings? And what about parking…?

People’s feelings about Mill Avenue connect to the time that it played an important role for them. Was it filet mignon and Roman bread at Monti’s that made you realize it is special? Was it a midnight movie at the Valley Art? How about meeting up with friends at Coffee Plantation? Live music at Long Wong’s? And the list keeps going…

Has Mill Avenue lost its way, or is it better than ever? Our main street is a constantly-changing, complicated place. Since its name appeared on maps in the 1880s, Mill Avenue has grown, improved, declined, rebounded and just plain shifted in a never-ending cycle. What will Mill Avenue be tomorrow? What will it be in 100 years?

For all that it has been, it will remain contentious, coveted, beloved, infuriating, and iconic, because it is our downtown. Our Mill Avenue.

Exhibit Highlights

The exhibit featured photos, artifacts from Mill Ave. businesses, as well as audio and video from notable Tempe business owners, performers and residents.

^{Video featured in the exhibit}

Scroll through the photo album below to view images of the exhibit.

Resources