Desert View Watch Tower, Grand Canyon, Arizona
N 36° 02.628 W 111° 49.558
12S E 425597 N 3989122
Quick Description: Famous Watch Tower overlooking the Grand Canyon
Location: Arizona, United States
Date Posted: 1/5/2007 11:32:26 AM
Waymark Code: WM13PX
Views: 58
Long Description:
Build a structure that provides the widest possible view of Grand
Canyon yet harmonizes with its setting: this was architect Mary
Colter's goal when the Fred Harvey Company hired her in 1930 to
design a gift shop and rest area at Desert View. Colter's answer
was the Watchtower.
A perfectionist, Colter scrutinized every detail, down to the
placement of nearly every stone. Each stone was handpicked for size
and appearance. Weathered faces were left untouched to give the
tower an ancient look. With a lavish, highly publicized dedication
ceremony, the Watchtower opened in May 1933
This text was taken from scienceviews.com.
It can also be found a
Marker near the tower describing its history in detail.
Click on the pictures for larger images
The Desert View Tower marks the easternmost end of Grand Canyon
National Park. It has a huge parking lot and nearby are a book
store, a souvenir store a cafeteria and restrooms. In the summer it
can get pretty crowded here, so if you really want to enjoy the
tower and its art work, come in the winter.
Click on the pictures for larger images
The uppermost observation area has a complete floor area
covering the circular plan, and large plate-glass windows
overlooking the surrounding expanses of the vast southwest.
Downside in the winter: the weather is unpredictable. In the
morning, hiking the western part, we had a clear view over the
canyon, but once we made it to Desert View, there wasn’t much of a
view left. Hopefully, the next visitors of the waymark can submit
better pictures of the truly amazing view.
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The most architecturally
impressive section of the building is undoubtedly the tower
interior. The space is an open shaft surrounded by circular
balconies edging the walls and small staircases that lead up to
subsequent levels. The steel and concrete structure of this space
is entirely plastered and all of the walls are covered with
murals.
The most distinct images, painted by Hopi artist Fred Kabotie
depict various aspects of Hopi mythology and religious ceremonies.
Experiencing the multiple levels and circular balconies and the
hundreds of prehistoric images inundates the viewer with an
overwhelming sense of the southwest. |
