Grand Canyon's Desert View Watchtower to Be Rededicated This Weekend

In honor of its recent transformation from a souvenir shop to a cultural heritage place, Desert View Watchtower on the Grand Canyon's East Rim will be officially rededicated this Sunday, May 22.

The watchtower, a Mary Colter design that dates to the 1930s, now is a place for Grand Canyon National Park visitors to connect with the Native American tribes that have traditional ties to the Canyon.

"This project re-envisions how visitors experience Desert View and the entire park," said Dave Uberuaga, the park's superintendent, in a news release. "This will lead the [National Park Service] into the next century."

The 10:30 a.m. ceremony will include representatives from the Park Service, the Grand Canyon Association and two Native American groups. The weekend of the ceremony, Navajo, Hopi, Havasupai and Zuni musicians, storytellers, artists and craftspeople will be on hand in and near the watchtower, which is about 45 minutes east of Grand Canyon Village. Trust us — it's worth the travel time.

For more information, visit the park's website.