This morning we went to a ranger talk about the Colorado River at Yavapai Observation Point. They built a new center there in 2007 and it's a great facilities, with magnificent views inside and outside the building.
View from Yavapai Observation Point
Yavapai Observation Point
After learning about the Colorado River and how it flows through the canyon and helped form the canyon, we went to the visitor's center again and saw Mather Point. They are doing construction there, so we had to take a bit of a detour to get to the viewpoint.
Mather Point
After lunch in the motorhome, we drove to Desert View, which is to the east near the east entrance to the national park. On the way, we stopped at the Tusayan Pueblo Ruins and Museum. This was a fascinating place. 800 years ago, around twenty people lived in this community.
Mountain lion crossing on the road to Desert View. Last evening's ranger talk was about mountain lions in the park.
Tusayan Pueblo Ruins
Food storage area in the ancient Pueblo ruins
Then it was on to Desert View. Here we saw the famous Watchtower, designed and built by the Fred Harvey Company and Santa Fe Railroad in 1932. Mary Elizabeth Jane Colter was the architect. Primarily an observation station and convenient rest stop for Grand Canyon visitors, it was also intended to bring about a better understanding of the American Indian and his life in past and present.
Watchtower designed by Mary Colter at Desert View
We climbed all the way to the top of the Watchtower.
Look closely (click on photo to enlarge) and you will see the meandering Colorado River.
Another view from the Watchtower area.
On the way back to Grand Canyon Village, we stopped at some more observation points.
In this photo you can clearly see the Colorado River, over 5000 feet down.
One of the final shots of the Canyon for today.
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