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BYU Walks

Brigham Young University
Evidence Tier:TRUSTED

Expert-developed at a leading university

For:General Public & Enthusiasts
Free
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App Summary

BYU Walks guides residents and visitors on self-guided tours of Brigham Young University and the surrounding Provo area, using content created by faculty and students. The BYU Humanities Center initiated the project as a public outreach effort to share the university's scholarship directly with the local community. Covering diverse topics from campus history to downtown murals, the tours encourage exploration and are intended to help people learn the stories that shape the region.

App Screenshots

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Detailed Description

Functionality & Mechanism

This self-guided tour application, developed by Brigham Young University's Humanities Center, delivers curated walking tours of the BYU campus and the surrounding Provo community. The platform presents historical and cultural narratives for specific geographic locations, leveraging content created by university faculty and students. Each tour is designed to provide users with expert-guided context as they explore different aspects of the area, from local murals and river deltas to the university's architectural origins.

Development & Context

The news coverage highlights the app's origin as a public scholarship initiative.

  • Sponsored by the BYU Humanities Center, the project was designed as a public outreach tool to foster interactive community engagement.
  • The app aims to support "place-making" by sharing local history and stories to create a stronger sense of community and place.
  • Initial offerings include six distinct tours, with several more in development, including a student-led project celebrating women in BYU's history.
  • The project was featured as a "Beacon of Light" on the BYU College of Humanities website for its community-focused approach.

Intended Use & Scope

The app is designed for Provo residents, visitors, and the BYU student community seeking a deeper understanding of local history and culture. It functions as a public scholarship resource, providing curated narratives and geographical context. The information presented is based on faculty and student contributions as reported in news coverage, not on peer-reviewed research.

In the Media

Provo Walks Project

BYU's Humanities Center developed BYU Walks to encourage community engagement through self-guided walking tours that promote "place-making" and "wayfinding" throughout Provo. Professor Rex Nielson, the project's creator and Director of the BYU Humanities Center, explains that the development process has been "very organic" and he's open to "anyone who comes to me and has an interesting idea." The app currently features six walks covering topics from Provo's downtown murals to BYU's origins and the Topaz Japanese Internment Camp.

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BYU Walks

Free

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