http://www.scenic.com/visitor-information/grand-canyon | 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.

1. 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

2. 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