Preservation Project Completed at Historic Grand Canyon Cabin

A project to preserve the Grand Canyon's oldest surviving historic structure will be honored in an award ceremony at Grand Canyon National Park this month.

The Buckey O'Neill Cabin, built by the Arizona legend himself on the South Rim around 1890, was the focus of the three-month restoration project by a team of personnel from Grand Canyon National Park, park concessionaire Xanterra, Loven Contracting, Page and Turnbull Architects, and the University of Delaware.

The structure had suffered damage from wood-boring insects, wood decay and water damage, and it had been painted with thick layers of historically inappropriate latex paint. It also needed a new roof. The team removed and replaced compromised logs, re-roofed the cabin and made other adjustments to restore the building to how it looked around 1935.

The recently completed project has been recognized with a Governor's Heritage Preservation Honor Award, and a ceremony is planned for June 13 at the site.

The cabin is available for overnight stays. To learn more, visit the Grand Canyon lodging website.