AZ - Grand Canyon Desert View by Aaron

Grand Canyon Desert View

~ Aaron

South Rim map

At the Watchtower

Grandview Point

      The Grand Canyon Desert View is very amazing, but can only be accessed through car. Watchtower's history is very interesting. The stuff inside is very symbolic. This tower offers a great view of the Grand Canyon and the view points do too. The sunset is very majestic at the Desert View. The Desert View is very nice. 

The Watchtower

The Watchtower

At the Watchtower

Inside the Watchtower

At the Watchtower

At the Watchtower

The ruins at the Watchtower

Stamps at the Watchtower

Inside the Watchtower

Inside the Watchtower

     The Desert View Watchtower was completed according to Mary Colter's designs near the edge of the Grand Canyon Desert View in 1932. It is meant to look like an American Indian building. The only difference was that this one was much taller than the American Indian forms. After 6 months of research, the construction was finally started. Its history is very wonderful to learn about.

Painting inside
the Watchtower

Painting inside
the Watchtower

    The stuff inside was painted by real American Indians. One of them painted a copy of very ancient things that are now destroyed, and could be the only copy still left of them! The symbols mean lots to them. It shows them hunting and doing other stuff in the daily life. These symbols are very important to people.

Desert View at the Watchtower overlook

View of Colorado River at the Watchtower

Desert View at the Watchtower overlook

Desert View at the
Watchtower overlook

View of Colorado River at the Watchtower

View of Colorado River
at the Watchtower

Desert View at the
Watchtower overlook

Desert View from the Watchtower

     The Tower offers a great view of much of the canyon. There are many overlooks a few steps away from the tower. The glistening Colorado River flowing through the canyon can be viewed from some of these overlooks. The sunset viewed from anywhere on the canyon is also very pretty, as the light makes the clouds change color.

Desert View from Watchtower

     The Navajo Point, Lipan Point, Moran Point, and the Grandview Point are all other places to see the beauty of the Grand Canyon. Along the way, we also passed the Tusayan Museum and Ruin, which was very fascinating. The first few points did offer a spectacular view of the canyon, but the Grandview Point was the best. 

Navajo Point

Navajo Point

Navajo Point

Navajo Point

Navajo Point

Navajo Point

Navajo Point

Lipan Point

Lipan Point

Lipan Point

Tusayan Museum and Ruin

Living Quarters

Storage Room

Large Kiva, Ceremonial Room

Small Kiva, Ceremonial Room

Moran Point

Moran Point

Moran Point

Moran Point

Moran Point

Grandview Point

Grandview Point

Grandview Point

Grandview Point

Grandview Point

Grandview Point

Grandview Point

Grandview Point

Grandview Point

Grandview Point

Campfire at Mather Campground

     The Grand Canyon Desert View Watchtower is stunning. Its history is very ancient, as it was designed to imitate American Indian designs. The symbols inside help make it seem much more ancient than it actually is. The view from the Watchtower and the Grand Canyon's viewpoints is a very unique one. The Grand Canyon Desert View Watchtower and all the viewpoints in the Grand Canyon are an extremely wonderful place to visit.