The Grand Canyon: The Crown Jewel of Arizona

There are places that defy description, and then there is the Grand Canyon—Arizona’s crown jewel and one of the world’s great wonders. It is a cathedral of stone and sky, a rippling tapestry of ancient rock layers carved over millions of years by the Colorado River. But beyond its breathtaking scale and beauty, the Grand Canyon is also a story of visionaries—architects, artists, entrepreneurs, conservationists, and dreamers—who shaped how we experience this extraordinary national treasure.

Mary Jane Colter’s Masterpieces: Hermits Rest & Hopi House

Long before “experiential architecture” was a trend, Mary Jane Colter was quietly revolutionizing it at the edge of the canyon. Working for the Fred Harvey Company and the Santa Fe Railway, Colter created buildings that didn’t compete with the landscape—they disappeared into it.

Hopi House (1905)

Colter’s Hopi House, near today’s El Tovar Hotel, remains one of the canyon’s most culturally important structures. Inspired by traditional Hopi dwellings, it was designed not as a tourist showpiece but as a living celebration of Indigenous artistry. Hopi artists created and sold their pottery, basketry, and paintings inside the building itself, giving visitors an authentic glimpse into the region’s heritage. To step inside today is to feel the quiet dignity of that intention—hand-plastered walls, low ceilings, and ancient artistry all working in harmony.

Hermits Rest (1914)

At the opposite end of the rim, Hermits Rest embodies Colter’s genius in a completely different way. Built to look like it had been standing for centuries, it resembles a rustic stone shelter left behind by early canyon explorers. Every stone appears weathered by time—and yet it was all carefully, intentionally constructed. Even the giant fireplace, famously oversized and asymmetrical, was crafted to feel like it had always belonged.

Both buildings are enduring proof of Colter’s unmatched ability to create architecture that feels born of the land itself.

Stephen Mather: The Guardian of America’s National Parks

If Colter shaped the experience of the Grand Canyon, Stephen Mather ensured its survival. As the first director of the National Park Service, Mather believed passionately that America’s most extraordinary landscapes needed protection, stewardship, and reverence. His dedication bordered on legend—and the Grand Canyon was one of the places he fought hardest to preserve.

Mather was known for using equal parts diplomacy, showmanship, and unshakable conviction to rally support. His most famous efforts took place deep within the canyon itself, where he hosted elaborate multi-course dinner parties at the bottom of the Grand Canyon. He invited policymakers, business leaders, and skeptics on a journey that few could refuse. After hours of switchbacks, rugged trails, and mule rides below the rim, guests would arrive at Phantom Ranch to candlelit tables, linen cloths, good wine, and lively conversation—all set against the silent grandeur of the canyon walls.

Mather knew that once people experienced the canyon’s majesty firsthand, they would understand why it must be protected forever.

His tireless work, paired with President Theodore Roosevelt’s boldly declared mission to preserve America’s natural wonders, led to the creation and strengthening of the national park system. Roosevelt famously proclaimed, “Leave it as it is.” Together, these men ensured that future generations would be able to stand on the canyon’s edge in awe—just as we do today.

A Legacy We Inherit—and Must Protect

Today, more than six million people visit the Grand Canyon each year to watch sunrise spill across the canyonscape, to hike its trails, to ride its mules, and to experience the powerful stillness that has inspired poets, painters, and presidents.

But we walk in the footsteps of giants.

Mary Jane Colter. Stephen Mather. President Theodore Roosevelt.

Architects of imagination, guardians of wilderness, champions of the American spirit.

We owe them a debt of gratitude for preserving this magnificent national treasure—one that belongs to all of us and to all who will follow.

When you stand on the rim and feel the canyon open before you, you feel the gift they left us: the reminder that some places are too beautiful, too extraordinary, too essential to the soul of a nation to ever be lost.

The Grand Canyon is one of them.

Did You Know? The Grand Canyon’s Guardians Came in Four Waves

The Grand Canyon didn’t become a national treasure overnight. Three extraordinary forces—artists, entrepreneurs, and conservationists—shaped how we experience and protect it today.

1. The Fred Harvey Company (First – 1880s–1890s)

Long before the Grand Canyon was a park, the Fred Harvey Company was building hotels, restaurants, and rail experiences across the Southwest. Their early presence paved the way for thoughtful tourism and cultural preservation at the canyon.

2. Mary Jane Colter (Early 1900s – joined 1902)

Colter, the visionary architect behind Hopi House (1905), Hermits Rest (1914), and many of the canyon’s most iconic structures, arrived next. Her architecture blended seamlessly with the land—setting a standard for “place-based design” long before the term existed.

3. President Theodore Roosevelt (1903–1908)

Roosevelt visited the canyon in 1903 and famously declared, “Leave it as it is.” In 1908, he officially protected the Grand Canyon by designating it a National Monument, preventing mining and inappropriate development.

4. Stephen Mather (Starting 1916)

As the first Director of the National Park Service, Mather brought the vision full circle. He championed preservation, improved access, and even hosted elaborate dinner parties at the bottom of the canyon to convince influential guests that it must be protected forever.

The Legacy

Colter shaped the experience of the canyon.

Roosevelt and Mather ensured its protection.

Together, they created the foundation for the Grand Canyon we cherish today.