Historic Buildings of the South Rim The Grand Canyon has been inhabited by people for thousands of years, but the earliest residents of the area were more concerned with making a living than showing off the astounding natural beauty of the area. It was first home to Native Americans, until white men discovered it in the 1500s. However, it was over 200 years later when white settlers came to stay, and for a time during the 1800s, the area was exploited for its mining potential.1 Soon, it became evident that the real value of the Grand Canyon came in the form of Grand Canyon tours. By the early 1900's, it was a popular travel destination. The first tourists arrived weary from stagecoach riding, in need of hot baths, nourishing meals, and comfortable beds. Conditions improved dramatically when the Santa Fe Railroad rolled in, providing a less strenuous means of getting to the Canyon and more luxurious accommodations at the South Rim village, aided by Fred Harvey, who established restaurants along the railways.2 Fred Harvey and his Fred Harvey's Girls provided travelers with well-prepared meals in clean establishments for a reasonable price, which was an innovative idea that helped bring the Wild West into civility suitable for respectable travelers.3 However, it was a small village of hotels, restaurants, museums, and gift shops that solidified the Grand Canyon, and particularly the scenic South Rim, into the world-class tourist attraction it is today. Some of the buildings first erected during this golden era of taming the Wild West still stand today. Kolb Studio One of the first teams of photographers to realize what a goldmine Grand Canyon photography would be were the Kolb brothers, specifically, Ellsworth and Emery. Built in 1904, Kolb Studio was where the brothers and their family lived and worked for 75 years. It stands at the head of the Bright Angel Trail, one of the main entranceways to the Canyon. Here, the Kolb brothers captured on film some of the first instances of a growing America enjoying her newfound leisure time by travel.4 El Tovar El Tovar, one of the first major construction projects at the South Rim, opened in 1905. Designed by Charles Whittlesey and funded by the Santa Fe Railroad, it was operated by the famous entrepreneur Fred Harvey and his capable female workforce. As one of the most luxurious buildings in the Old West, it offered (and still does) fine dining and various activities to whittle away travelers' time. All year, El Tovar offers 78 guest rooms, a dining room, lounge, gift shop, and newsstand, all of which are open to the public and still look remarkably like a page out of 1905.5 The Bright Angel Lodge As nice as El Tovar was (and is), travelers of lesser means also needed a clean, comfortable place to stay, and the Bright Angel Lodge was built to meet that need. Designed by the notable Mary E.J. Colter, it incorporated two existing buildings into the final grand structure, all of which are

still standing today. The Buckey O'Neill Cabin is one of the guest suites, donated to the Fred Harvey Corporation6 after Buckey was killed in Cuba while fighting with Teddy Roosevelt and his Rough Riders. The cabin is the oldest original building still standing at the South Rim historical village. The Red Horse Cabin was also pulled into the Bright Angel Lodge, moved from another location to serve for a while as the local post office. It also serves as one of the guest suites at the lodge. This cabin is the oldest surviving structure at the South Rim historical village. Other Historical Buildings to Visit at the South Rim There are over a dozen such historical buildings to visit on your Grand Canyon tour, including Lookout Studio, a lookout point and gift shop sitting right on the edge of the rim. This building was designed by Colter in 1914 to blend in seamlessly with the natural surroundings. Hopi House, another Colter design, was opened in 1905 and features a first floor gift shop and second floor museum. Gifts featured at the Hopi House are authentic Native American arts and crafts, including jewelry, pottery, Navajo rugs, and handmade kachinas. The museum pieces are also authentic Native American pieces. Visitors can also see the historical buildings of El Tovar Stables, Verkamp’s Curio Store, The Grand Canyon Power House, The Grand Canyon Depot, The AT&SF employee residences, and Colter Hall. Several of these buildings are listed on the National Registry of Historic Places. Summary By the early 1900's, the Grand Canyon had established itself as "the" tourist destination in America. The South Rim sprung up a village to accommodate travelers, and many of those historic buildings still stand today. Company Bio The experts at Scenic Airlines & Coaches are the world's most experienced aerial tour guides, offering breathtaking flights and tours around the Grand Canyon since 1967. Tours are available from the Grand Canyon National Park, as well as from nearby Las Vegas. Touring the Canyon from the air offers a view that simply can't be appreciated from the ground, and Scenic Airlines specializes in customizing packages and tours specific to your needs. Whether you plan a romantic rendezvous, an educational group outing, or a corporate event, visit Scenic Airlines to plan and enjoy your perfect Grand Canyon adventure.

1 http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/History_of_the_Grand_Canyon_area

2 http://www.oerm.org/harvey-girl-historical-society

3 http://grandcanyonhistory.clas.asu.edu/history_nativecultures.html

4 http://grandcanyonhistory.clas.asu.edu/sites_southrim_kolbstudio.html