Desert View & Tusayan Ruins at Grand Canyon, AZ

Desert View is on the eastern end of the Grand Canyon park. It is about 25 miles from the main information center. It also is a smaller version of the information area and has a general store.
The watchtower you see in the photo below was designed by Mary Colter in 1930. Its purpose was so visitors could get the widest view of the Grand Canyon. Note the stonework. This building is 4 stories high and you can enter each level and look out the windows. The top floor was undergoing renovation so we could not enter that area.



Inside the tower on the walls were beautiful paintings of HOPI indian life. The lower level of this building was a gift/souvenier type of shop for visitors.

Jeff is on his way up the stairs for even better views of the Grand Canyon.

The Tusayan Ruins and Museum are also part of the Grand Canyon park and just west of the Desert View Watchtower. The people who lived here over 800 years ago were the Pueblo Indians.

They built areas for storage, as above, and also built rooms for sleeping. These rooms were covered at one time, but over time the roofs have disappeared.

The picture below is of a KIVA. These were used as ceremonial rooms. These were important rooms to the Pueblo Indians. Meetings were held here to make important decisions in their lives.

See ya down the road.