ASU is the only place to view the world’s largest meteorite collection, watch someone play a 148-bell symphonic carillon, learn about Arizona’s early history and discover one-of-a-kind early human skeletons — all in one day.

ASU’s Museums, Galleries and Collections Committee hosted its annual “We Love ASU Collections” event Monday, allowing the general public to see all of ASU’s collections in the span of one day.

The open house event is designed to draw public interest to the more than 30 museums and galleries ASU houses, committee co-chair Karrie Porter Brace said.

Multiple centers held guided tours throughout the day, while the rest were open for self-guided tours and exploration.

“A lot of students aren’t really familiar with our collections, but they are on campus and have the opportunity to learn about them by taking classes,” Porter Brace said. “We need to make more of an effort to promote these things off campus than on [campus], in order to bring in the public and prospective students.”

The event was scheduled on President’s Day in hopes that community members would be able to attend.

Monday was also a Sun Devil Day, which Porter Brace called a happy coincidence, since many prospective students were touring campus as visitors explored the collections.

ASU’s collections are varied, showcasing items from fine arts and natural history to lunar reconnaissance and Mars exploration.

ASU spokeswoman and Collections Committee member Judith Smith said she has worked at ASU for 22 years and is still learning surprising information about the collections.

“There’s a richness tucked away behind all the walls,” Smith said. “The breadth and the depth we have represented is amazing. I really think the collections represent the past, present and future.”

Though We Love ASU Collections catered to the public, Porter Brace said students are welcome to see the collections during the annual event and on a daily basis.

“It’s so very important when [students] can reach out and touch intangible history,” she said. “They can really learn a lot that way, and each facility offers something like that to ASU students.”

Mesa resident William Stadi attended the tours and said the event was unique.

Stadi has attended We Love ASU Collections for several years and said the event is interesting every year because the exhibits change.

“This is a great opportunity for students to see things they wouldn’t otherwise get to,” he said. “ASU has so many exhibits for students to access, but unless you know the location, you’re not going to get that experience, and this [event] shows them how to do that.”

The guided tours allow guests to see things that are not normally on exhibit for self-guided tours, he said.

“It seems to me students don’t really know much about what ASU’s Collections have to offer outside of those related to their majors,” Stati said. “Without a doubt, students should consider attending next year.”

The Museums, Galleries and Collections Committee was formed more than 10 years ago and has been hosting We Love ASU Collections annually for as long as it’s been in existence. The committee also hosts a similar event called May Museum Day each year.

ASU Collections are extremely unique and contain a wealth of information about ASU’s history as well as Arizona’s history, Porter Brace said.

“These little collections all over campus served early on as way for students to get hands on experience,” Porter Brace said. “They have since evolved into some really amazing facilities on campus with a lot to offer.”

Reach the reporter at keshoult@asu.edu