A private automobile trip from Las Vegas takes approximately six hours and 30 minutes. The Grand Canyon bus tour may possibly take longer. The recommended route from Las Vegas to one of the Seven Natural Wonders of the World commences north through Nevada on Interstate Highway 15 and up into Utah. It is not unusual to stop at some point, often in Kingman, Arizona. At Washington, Utah, it\’s a left turn onto State Highway 9 to the Grand Canyon in Mojave, Arizona.

There are two separate points of entry into Grand Canyon National Park, the West Rim and the South Rim. The South Rim is where most of the action is in terms of historic buildings, hotels and other amenities, and sightseeing spots. The Grand Canyon Historic District is located here on the South Rim.

The South Rim is a superb vantage point for fans of Mary Jane Colter\’s architectural designs. Born in 1869 in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, Colter was educated at the San Francisco Art Institute. She passed away in January 1958. While she lived to see many of her buildings demolished, eleven of them survive on the National Register of Historic Places, five of which have been designated National Landmarks. Of these, four may be found among the South Rim buildings.

Among Mary Colter\’s National Landmarks is the Desert View Watchtower. Built in 1932, the tower stands more than 7,500 feet above sea level. The highest point on the South Rim, it offers a unique full view of the canyon floor and the Colorado River.

Lookout Studio, built in 1914, is another of Colter\’s works. The walls of the rubble stone building give rise to an irregular parapet, which houses the building\’s chimneys. There are three levels, the main level of which serves as a shop and viewing area. The Lookout is an example of Colter\’s rustic style of incorporating nagged native stone to blend in with the environment and to mimic the region\’s indigenous buildings.

Like the Lookout, the Hermit\’s Rest was erected in 1914. The structure lies a few feet from the rim of the Grand canyon and is partly buried in an earthen mound. In keeping with the Colter vibe, the building is designed to resemble a natural rock formation.

The last of Mary Colter\’s four National Landmark buildings housed within the Historic Village is Hopi House, built in 1905. The purpose of the structure was to serve as a commercial outlet for Native American crafts. The building is made of sandstone in varying gradations, while the roof serves as a terrace, similar to a traditional Hopi building. The fifth Mary Colter structure in the village, and the only one of this collection not on the inventory of national landmarks, is Bright Angel Lodge, fashioned from bricks and stone in 1935 as a small museum honoring Fred Harvey.

Whether you journey from Vegas on the overnight Grand Canyon bus or depart in the morning, your destination will take days to view properly. Apart from being a natural wonder in its own right, the National Park holds a collection of some buildings of national importance designed by an extremely visionary lady.

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Find a summary of the advantages of booking Grand Canyon bus tours and more information about reputable tour operators at http://www.grandcanyonbustours.org/coupons.html now.

Author Bio: Find a summary of the advantages of booking Grand Canyon bus tours and more information about reputable tour operators at http://www.grandcanyonbustours.org/coupons.html now.

Category: Travel
Keywords: Grand Canyon bus, Grand Canyon, Canyon bus, Travel