In 1952, "A" Mountain, the symbol of Sun Devil pride on the southern-facing side of Hayden Butte, was dynamited by vandals who remain uncaught to this day. The attack fueled school rivalries, heightening tensions between ASU and UA. ASU provided limited information about the explosive incident on its website, but we wanted to know more.

In this video, through unexpected twists and turns, we unravel the history of the attack, diving into historical records and meeting with experts to figure out precisely what happened on that September morning in 1952. However, a collection of newspaper documents led to a shocking discovery: The "A" has been a target of more than one attack.

Video and animations by Kaden Ryback
Illustrations by Morgan Kubasko
Drone footage by Calvin Stewart
Extra videography by Ellie Willard
Archived photo and video courtesy of University Archives, ASU Library; Deborah Spotts; and Jared Smith

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