Grand Canyon Railway Depot

Welcome to the Grand Canyon Railway Depot, a magnificent timbered structure that has served as the threshold to wonder for millions of travelers. Constructed in nineteen oh nine, this remarkable building is one of the few…

Just a short walk from the depot, standing proudly on the very edge of the canyon rim, is the crown jewel of the historic village: The El Tovar (el toh-var) Hotel. Opened in nineteen oh five, it actually predates the official…

Directly across from El Tovar sits a structure that provides a stark architectural contrast: The Hopi (hoh-pee) House. Also completed in nineteen oh five, this building was conceived by the brilliant architect Mary Colter, who…

Continuing along the rim, we arrive at the Bright Angel Lodge. Built in nineteen thirty-five, this is another of Mary Colter’s masterpieces, designed to provide more affordable accommodations for the rising tide of middle-class…

Let us now step away from the architecture and confront the canyon itself along the South Rim Trail. The paved walking trail hugs the very edge of the precipice, offering shifting, dizzying perspectives of the abyss. …

Perched precariously on a rocky outcropping along the rim trail is Lookout Studio. Built in nineteen fourteen, this native stone structure was designed by Mary Colter to blend so seamlessly into the cliff face that it appears to…

If you follow the rim trail eastward for about two miles, away from the bustling village, you will arrive at Yavapai (yah-vah-pie) Point. This specific promontory offers what many geologists consider the most comprehensive,…

As the afternoon shadows begin to lengthen, stretching long, purple fingers across the canyon walls, the time comes to make our way back toward the Grand Canyon Railway Depot. The visual texture of the canyon changes dramatically…