Join us on an immersive 8-minute adventure as we step back in time and explore the rich history of Grand Canyon’s Historic Village.

Highlights:

• Mallery’s Grotto: Discover the hidden gem of Mallery’s Grotto, where ancient stories echo through the rugged rock formations.

• Kolb Studio: Wander through the historic Kolb Studio, once home to pioneering photographers Emery and Ellsworth Kolb. Marvel at their captivating images of the canyon’s early days.

• Lookout Studio: Stand on the edge at Lookout Studio, where panoramic vistas unfold before your eyes. Capture breathtaking views of the Colorado River winding through the ancient chasm.

• Buckey O’Niell’s Cabin, the oldest Western Building at Grand Canyon, the served as a miner’s residence and later at the office for the first Bright Angel Lodge.

• Bright Angel Lodge: Step inside the rustic charm of Bright Angel Lodge, a historic retreat that has welcomed travelers for over a century. Feel the warmth of its stone fireplace and imagine the tales shared by weary explorers.

• The Heart-Shaped Stone: Seek out the heart-shaped stone—a symbol of love etched by time itself. Let its silent whispers connect you to generations past.

• El Tovar Hotel: Experience timeless elegance at El Tovar Hotel, where early adventurers sought respite after their rugged journeys. Admire the rustic architecture and soak in the canyon views.

• Hopi House: Explore the Hopi House, a tribute to the indigenous Hopi people who have inhabited the Grand Canyon for centuries. Admire their intricate artistry and learn about their enduring culture.

• Trail of Time Kiosk: Our journey concludes at the Trail of Time kiosk, where geology and history intersect. Trace the eons through rock layers and ponder the vastness of this natural wonder.

Total walking distance: Approximately half a mile throughout the village.

Whether you’re a seasoned canyon enthusiast or a first-time visitor, this video promises a glimpse into the soul of Grand Canyon—a place where time stands still, and stories echo across the ages.

The first stop is a detour off the rim trail and onto Bright Angel Trail for about three minutes, through the first tunnel to view an area known as Mallery’s Grotto, which has Native Pictographs as old a 4,000 years. This provides some context. There were people living here for thousands of years before development began of the Grand Canyon Village. They had buildings too. The original Bright Angel Trail was created by Native poeple walking to their farm sites at Havasupai Garden. The historic village we will visit today represents the Western development of Grand Canyon for the purposes of tourism.

Moving East from Mallery’s Grotto is Kolb Studio. Notably, the first Western use of Grand Canyon was for mining, and Bright Angel Trail was expanded to accomodate the purposes of the miners. But mining was a bust while tourism developed. Initially, a gate was installed at the head of Bright Angel Trail and tourists were charged $1, (about in today’s money) to ride mules down into the Canyon.

The Kolb brothers built a successful business photographing both the Canyon and the Tourists, and expaned their studio multiple times to house their family and to eventually show motion pictures of the Canyon. The auditorium is located at the back of the studio, formerly housing an art gallery, and today a small museum of Grand Canyon history.

Proceeding East on the Rim Trail, Bright Angel Cabins are on your right, and the impressive rock structure on your left is Lookout Studio, opened in 1914, and designed by famed female architect, Mary Colter, and employee of the Fred Harvey Company, that developed most of the buildings here. Colter, a woman ahead of her time, incorporated natural materials and native designs into her buildings, all of which have a bit of a Disneyland vibe, because they were designed to serve tourists and sell curios and services. Lookout Studio still sells curios, but walk through the store to the various decks to see spectacular views of the Canyon and the rim walk that you will be taking today.

The next building is the oldest surviving Western Building at Grand Canyon, Bucky O’Neill’s cabin, built in 1895.

O’Neill helped form the railway that lead to Grand Canyon, and joined Teddy Roosevelt’s Rough Riders, dying in battle at the age of 38. O’Niell Butte on South Kaibab Trail is named after him.

El Tovar was built in 1905 and imagined to resemble a European Hunting Lodge. To me, it looks like something from a Harry Potter movie. Although designed by architect Charles Whittlesey, Mary Colter designed the interior furnishings.

Across from the El Tovar is Hopi House, built contemporaneously with El Tovar, a massive structure designed by Mary Colter and on the National Register of Historic Places. It was built specifically to sell Native Arts and Crafts to tourists and continues to do so until today.