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Desert View Watchtower, also known as the Indian Watchtower at Desert View, is a 70-foot (21 m)-high stone building located on the South Rim of the Grand Canyon within Grand Canyon National Park in Arizona, United States. The tower is located at Desert View, more than 20 miles (32 km) to the east of the main developed area at Grand Canyon Village, toward the east entrance to the park. The four-story structure, completed in 1932, was designed by American architect Mary Colter, an employee of the Fred Harvey Company who also created and designed many other buildings in the Grand Canyon vicinity including Hermit's Rest and the Lookout Studio. The interior contains murals by Fred Kabotie.
The watchtower was the last of the series of Mary Colter-designed
visitor concession structures at the Grand Canyon until her renovation
of the Bright Angel Lodge in 1935. The tower was designed to resemble
an Ancient Pueblo Peoples watchtower, but its size dwarfs any known
Pueblan-built tower. The closest prototypes for such a structure may
be found at Hovenweep National Monument.The structure is composed of a
circular coursed masonry tower rising from a rubble base. The base was
intentionally designed to convey a partly ruinous appearance, perhaps
of an older structure on which the watchtower was later built. The
base is arranged within a large circle with the tower to the north.
Tiny windows are irregularly disposed, some of which are themselves
irregular in shape. The main space is the Kiva Room in the base
structure, apparently roofed with logs that were salvaged from the old
Grandview Hotel. The ceiling is a false structure concealing the roof
structure that supports an observation deck. The Kiva Room features a
fireplace with a large picture window directly above where the chimney
would ordinarily go. Smoke is drawn away through an offset, concealed
flue. The room still contains its original furnishings, which are part
of the historic designation. A separate, apparently ruinous structure
was actually built in that form to provide a storage place for
firewood.
The tower rises as an open shaft lined by circular balconies
overlooking the central space. Access from balcony to balcony is
provided by small stairways. At the top the space is decked over,
creating an enclosed observation level with large glazed windows. An
open observation area on the roof of this space is now closed to
visitors and is used for radio equipment. The steel and concrete
structure of the observation level is concealed behind plaster, stone
and wood. The tower is decorated by bold murals by Fred Kabotie, with
other, petroglyph-style decorations by Fred Greer. Small windows in
the tower's shaft let beams of light into the lower space.
Irinda, Hettie Naude, and 176 other people added this photo to their favorites.
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Rosita So Image 17 months ago | reply
fantastic view and capture
liquidends 17 months ago | reply
majestic
kjatexas 17 months ago | reply
Wow !! Incredible country.
nb-hjwmpa 17 months ago | reply
Great landscape !!!!!
Jay Pasion (On Vacation) 17 months ago | reply
Nice shot.
Photos.dan2010 Merci pour vos 150k visites!!!!!!!! 17 months ago | reply
Excellente composition !!!!!!!!!
Bravo et merci pour votre visite!!!
Dan...
Anthropomorphic Personification [deleted] 17 months ago | reply
WOW! What a stunning vista! Beautifully captured too! Great info as well. :)
TIA International Photography 17 months ago | reply
Marvelous landscape and composition!
supercoco__ 17 months ago | reply
ouww
Andrea Ghirardi 16 months ago | reply
incredible landscape!
one42chrisp 16 months ago | reply
Fantastic!
ΞSSΞ®®Ξ 16 months ago | reply
majestic view. vastness! stunning depth!
Ney.Madeira 16 months ago | reply
Overwhelming beauty!!!!!
philippe.bellin 16 months ago | reply
Beautiful
mgw_wgw 16 months ago | reply
Very impressive view, beautifully captured :)
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Seen on your photo stream. ( ?² )
halina.reshetova 16 months ago | reply
Insanely beautiful! Stunning shot!
Cajaflez 16 months ago | reply
Fantastic image.
oxiourus (without fast internet) 15 months ago | reply
Wow, this looks majestic, perfectly captured. The rule of thirds does not universally apply, perfectly composed as is.
quader™ 15 months ago | reply
amazing view!
E.Mill 14 months ago | reply
so beautiful capture and
wonderful landscape!