Entry No. 9 — the Phoenix file — filed under: lasers

Vintage Lasers and Holograms

A strip-mall storefront hides the world's oldest continuously operating holography gallery: 180-plus lasers and holograms dating to the 1970s, all collected and maintained by holographer Bob Hess, who still uses many of them to make new holograms.

The move: Book a walk-through with Bob himself — he narrates the collection like a tour of his own life's work, from early gas lasers used in 1960s TV-transmission experiments to modern rainbow holograms, and it's free.

• 📍 Tempe
• 💸 $
• ⚡ Up for anything
• 🌗 Indoors

Where: 5020 S Ash Ave #102, Tempe, AZ 85282

Hours: Added 2026-07-19 — confirm current hours before you go.

⚠ Seasonal or scheduled — always check before you go.

Plan a visit & invite your people →

Further reading: Atlas Obscura · boingboing.net

last checked: 2026-07-19