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What to See at the South Rim

The views aren't the only thing to see at the Grand Canyon. Be sure to vist the following.

El Tovar Hotel

El Tovar Hotel, the premier lodging facility at the Grand Canyon, opened its doors in 1905 and was most recently renovated in 2005. In the past, the Hotel has hosted such luminaries as Theodore Roosevelt, Albert Einstein, Western author Zane Grey, and many others. Today, El Tovar retains its elegant charm. Located on the Canyon rim, it features a fine dining room (open for breakfast, lunch, and dinner), lounge and curio shop with newsstand. El Tovar offers its guests Concierge, turn-down and room service and is a Registered National Historic Landmark. Once described as "the most expensively constructed and appointed log house in America," the Santa Fe Railroad commissioned its construction in 1902. The El Tovar cost $250,000 to construct and was considered by many to be the most elegant hotel west of the Mississippi. Electric lights were powered by the hotel's own coal-fired generator. It had its own greenhouse for fresh fruits and vegetables. A chicken house supplied fresh eggs for hotel guests. Even fresh milk was supplied by its own dairy herd. Inside the El Tovar was a barbershop, solarium, amusement room, club room, large dining room, art and music rooms. The dining room had large picture windows overlooking the canyon. The porch on the north side probably dates back to the 1950s when the dining room was enlarged and the cocktail lounge was added.

Hopi House

Opened January 1, 1905 as the first curio shop at the Grand Canyon, Hopi House was designed by renowned architect Mary Elizabeth Jane Colter (Mary E. J. Colter), one of the first American architects to appreciate the utility and beauty of Native American design. The design of the structure was meant to reflect that of a typical adobe pueblo used by the Hopi Indians of old Oraibi. It is a multi-story structure of stone and adobe masonry with ceilings on the inside thatched with successive layers of saplings and timbers. It also features wall niches, corner fireplaces, and adobe walls typical of Hopi pueblos. Even the construction was done mainly by Hopi Indians. The Hopis, who lived and worked there, entertained guests with nightly dances on the dance platform to the north. Recently renovated, the Hopi House, a National Historic Landmark, has been offering authentic Native American arts and crafts to visitors for purchase since Fred Harvey opened its doors in 1905.

Lookout Studio

Lookout Studio was designed in 1914 by Mary E. J. Colter as a gift shop and lookout point for the Fred Harvey Company. Perched on the South Rim, it blends exceptionally well with its natural setting. The building was designed with native stone and an irregular roofline to blend into the rim of the Grand Canyon. Like Hopi House, it was designed to imitate the stone dwellings of the Pueblo Indians of the Southwest. The chimney was made of irregular stones, which allowed soil and debris to collect between the cracks. Plants found a niche for growing, which further blended the building into its surroundings. A lounge was inside the studio with a fireplace and an artroom where postcards and artwork were for sale. Lookout Studio stills sells photography and books related to the Grand Canyon, rock and fossil specimens, traditional souvenirs, books and photographic prints. Two lookout points are open in good weather. It is located a short walk west of historic Bright Angel Lodge. Open year-round and hours vary seasonally.

Kolb Brothers Studio

Once the home of the Kolb brothers, who were early photographers at Grand Canyon, the Kolb Studio features changing art exhibits displayed in the auditorium throughout the year. Built by brothers Ellsworth and Emery Kolb from 1904 to 1926, Kolb Studio is included in the National Register of Historic Places and operated by Grand Canyon Association. The Kolb brothers started a business photographing parties going down the Bright Angel Trail. Because water supplies were limited on the rim of the Canyon, they would photograph the mule passengers then run 4 1/2 miles to Indian Garden where they had set up a photographic lab. Water was available here for processing the film. They then returned to the rim of the Canyon with the processed pictures ready for the mule passengers on their return. The bookstore and auditorium are open to the public. The studio is located in the Village Historic District, at the Bright Angel trailhead. Open year-round and hours vary seasonally.

Verkamps

Verkamp's Curios is the oldest family-owned and -operated gift shop in all of America's National Parks. Built in l906, Verkamp's is located literally steps from the Grand Canyon's South Rim. The building, which also served as the family residence from 1906 through the mid-1980s, is listed on the National Register of Historic Places. Open year-round, visitors have warmed themselves by the elegant limestone fireplace in fall and winter, and enjoyed canyon views from the shade and comfort of the front porch in summer.

Bright Angel Lodge

Bright Angel Lodge, designed in 1935, has a natural, rustic character, and is a Registered National Historic Landmark. Designed by famed architect Mary E. J. Colter, it has always been a popular place to stay and the center of South Rim activity. The design concept of Bright Angel Lodge was unique for park visitors throughout the west. Its mission was to provide moderately priced accommodations for tourists with moderate incomes. It followed the general theme of the El Tovar Hotel, boasting curio shops, a restaurant, and an open-framed lobby with peeled log supports. To the west of the lobby is the lounge with two large picture windows framing the canyon. Inside the lounge is the famous ten foot high geologic fireplace, designed by Colter, representing the rocks and order of strata inside the canyon. The top of the fireplace is constructed of Kaibab Limestone found on the rim of the canyon. Each stone was carefully selected from the strata inside the canyon and packed out by mule. Mary Colter decorated the lobby with various styles of period hats including Pancho Villa's sombrero. Located just a few feet from the Canyon rim, Bright Angel Lodge is the check-in point for the world famous Grand Canyon Mule Rides.