A Female Architect’s 70-Foot Stone Masterpiece Stands Sentinel at the Grand Canyon’s Edge

Desert View Watchtower, Grand Canyon AZ

Look up at Desert View Watchtower and you’ll swear you’re spotting an ancient ruin, but this 70-foot stone tower is actually a 1930s masterpiece.

Architect Mary Colter designed this Grand Canyon landmark to honor Native American architecture, loaded it with indigenous artwork inside, and topped it with the most incredible canyon views you can get.

Plus, you can climb to the top for a panorama that’ll blow your Instagram followers’ minds.

The Brilliant Mind Behind This 1932 Masterpiece

Mary Elizabeth Jane Colter was a pioneer who went beyond sketches.

As one of the first female architects in America, she designed Desert View Watchtower as her final Grand Canyon project before tackling Bright Angel Lodge.

Inspired by actual Puebloan towers, Colter (who worked for the Fred Harvey Company) insisted on preserving the natural, weathered look of the rocks.

Colter traveled the Southwest studying indigenous buildings, spent six months researching ancient structures, and built a 70-foot platform to perfect her design.

The Fred Harvey Company Shaped Tourism at Grand Canyon

During the Great Depression, the Fred Harvey Company expanded services and economic opportunities, with the Desert View Watchtower as a key 1930s project.

The project was also part of the Grand Canyon development by the Atchison, Topeka & Santa Fe Railway, marking their premiere resort.

Today, the Grand Canyon Conservancy’s Park Store occupies the first floor, continuing the tradition of enhancing visitor experiences.

Desert View Serves as a Cultural Gateway to Indigenous Lands

The Watch Tower combines modern design with Native American influence, connecting the Grand Canyon to Navajo and Hopi lands at Desert View.

Colter studied prehistoric structures at Mesa Verde, Chaco, and Wupatki, using Grand Canyon stones to create something that now hosts cultural demonstrations.

The Inter-tribal Cultural Heritage Site hosts cultural demonstrations, allowing visitors to interact with Native artists and learn about diverse tribal heritage.

Modern Engineering Hides Behind the Ancient Facade

Don’t be fooled by the old-world appearance. Using locally sourced rocks and reused timber, the tower appears to grow naturally from the canyon rim.

It was designed with help from Atchison, Topeka & Santa Fe Railway bridge builders, who created an invisible steel framework behind the stone exterior.

Colter oversaw every rock placement, adding features like built-in cracks and hidden petroglyphs on some stones as a deliberate design element.

Look for the white decorative stones near the top that gradually fade as they wrap around the tower, a pattern she borrowed from Chaco Canyon.

The Location Was Strategically Chosen for Maximum Impact

Colter strategically placed the Watchtower over 20 miles east of Grand Canyon Village, offering unique views not found elsewhere.

From this strategic spot, you can see the Colorado River’s transition from the narrow Marble Canyon into the much wider Grand Canyon.

The tower sits at the highest point on the South Rim on a promontory that juts out for maximum visibility in all directions.

Beyond the canyon, you can see the San Francisco Peaks in the distance and the vast Painted Desert stretching toward the horizon.

Multiple Artists Contributed to the Interior Artwork

Fred Geary painted the second and third floors with designs from Southwest prehistoric sites, including replicas of now-lost rock art from Abo, New Mexico.

Another Hopi artist, Chester Dennis, who was the lead Hopi dancer at the tower’s 1933 dedication, added incised petroglyph designs throughout the structure.

Look up and you’ll see the ceiling decorated with stars, including the Evening and Morning stars, the Milky Way, and other astronomical features.

Four Floors Offer Progressive Views of the Canyon

Start in the Kiva Room before climbing the stairway. Since 2015, conservation work has restored all five stories to their original glory.

Climbing the winding staircase adorned with Native American motifs, you’ll encounter new views at each level of the canyon and landscape.

You’ll have about 20 minutes to explore, spiraling up and down the tower. The four-story tower eventually ends at an observation deck.

Access is limited to control crowds, requiring a timed entry card from a ranger.

The upper floors are typically open from 8:00 am to 5:00 pm, with the last entry at 5:00 pm and stairs closing at 5:30 pm.

Fred Kabotie’s Murals Tell Ancient Hopi Stories

Inside the tower, you’ll find murals by Hopi artist Fred Kabotie. The first-floor “Hopi Room” features his vibrant depictions of deities and Hopi history.

The most famous mural depicts the journey of the first Hopi to navigate the Colorado River, long before John Wesley Powell’s expedition.

Kabotie also created murals at Petrified Forest National Park and helped establish the Hopi Silversmiths Cooperative Guild in 1948.

The Hopi Snake Legend Mural Depicts a 1,000-Year-Old Journey

Kabotie’s Hopi Snake Legend mural depicts the first Hopi person to travel the Colorado River, located in the circular section above the main room.

Ed Kabotie states this adventurer journeyed 1,000 years before Major John Wesley Powell finally returned to the Navajo Mountain.

The upper right has a boat on the Colorado River, the lower right of a Snake Priest giving a bow symbol to the Chief’s Son, and the lower left shows their trip back.

See the Canyon Through Special Reflectoscopes

The tower features “reflectoscopes,” special viewing devices invented by 17th-century French painter Claude Lorrain, offering a unique view of the Grand Canyon.

These sheets of black glass or onyx act like mirrors, cutting through haze and sunlight to reveal the canyon’s vibrant, multi-colored layers with exceptional clarity.

These unique viewers are in the View Room, designed by Mary Colter to capture canyon views. Even the fireplace is strategically placed to avoid blocking the view.

The Trading Post Connects You with Authentic Native American Crafts

Just a short walk from the Watchtower, you’ll find the Desert View Trading Post, open daily from 9 am to 5 pm. This isn’t your average gift shop.

The trading post showcases authentic Native American crafts made by artisans from tribes with historical connections to the Grand Canyon.

You can browse handmade rugs, jewelry, dreamcatchers, baskets, and wood carvings that carry on centuries-old traditions.

After shopping, treat yourself at the Ice Cream/Snack Bar inside, which serves ice cream, sweet treats, and coffee drinks amist million-dollar views.

Modern Amenities Make Your Visit Comfortable

Just a short 0.25-mile walk, there’s a General Store with a deli serving healthy Southwestern-style options, the Chevron gas station, and a campground.

The East Entrance to the park at Desert View remains open 24 hours a day, year-round, unless temporarily closed by snow.

The Desert View campground, open from mid-April to mid-October, offers 50 campsites for $12 per night for those who wanna watch the stars.