More Trip Photos

After driving through Sedona and having breakfast in Flagstaff, we decided to drive north and approach the Grand Canyon from the east. The park begins in 27 miles, but it is still a long drive from there to Grand Canyon village. On the south side of the road there is the rock formation as seen in the second photo. One great thing about the canyon is that there is absolutely no way to tell in advance that you are approaching a 5,000 foot hole in the earth.




Just east of the canyon is what is a side canyon called "the little Colorado."



Finally we drove into the park.



The first view of the canyon from the east end is Desert View. One of the early concessionaires, the Fred Harvey Company, hired famed female architect Mary Coulter to build the watchtower. Her mission was to provide the widest possible view of the Grand Canyon while harmonizing with the setting. It has a concrete base and steel framework built by the bridge department of the Sana Fe railroad. Coulter was a perfectionist and scrutinized every detail, down to the placement of nearly every stone. Hopi artist, Fred Kabotie, painted most of the interior murals. The watchtower opened in May 1933. Coulter also designed the Hopi House, Bright Angel Lodge, Lookout Studio, Hermit's Rest, and Phantom Ranch.