Mary Jane Colter buildings, Architectural ensemble in Grand Canyon National Park, US.
The Mary Jane Colter Buildings are four structures in Grand Canyon National Park: Hopi House (1905) and Lookout Studio (1914) in Grand Canyon Village, Hermits Rest (1914) at the end of the paved road west of the village, and Desert View Watchtower (1932) about 12 miles east. Hopi House follows a Hopi dwelling; the watchtower borrows from Southwestern ruins and holds reproductions of rock art from a destroyed site.
The Fred Harvey Company commissioned Mary Colter to build these structures to accommodate early Grand Canyon visitors and enhance their experience of the region. This project marked a turning point in integrating regional Native American design elements into United States National Park architecture.
The Desert View Watchtower interior holds reproductions of rock art from a site that has since been destroyed, and its architecture borrows from several Southwestern ruins. Hopi House, by contrast, is Colter's modern take on a Hopi dwelling. Both buildings came from her study of standing structures and ruins, and both were built for the Fred Harvey Company.
Visitors can reach Hermits Rest by shuttle bus, explore the Hopi House, and photograph canyon views from Lookout Studio. All sites are accessible by vehicle or on foot, with the South Rim Road connecting the buildings.
The set excludes two other Colter works in the park, Bright Angel Lodge and Phantom Ranch, so the landmark covers only these four structures. Hopi House, finished in 1905, is the oldest of them; the Desert View Watchtower, completed in 1932, is the newest. The four were jointly listed as a National Historic Landmark on 28 May 1987.
The community of curious travelers
AroundUs brings together thousands of curated places, local tips, and hidden gems, enriched daily by 94,459 contributors worldwide.