The Lookout

The Lookout Studio was constructed of locally quarried Kaibab limestone and designed to appear as if it grew out of the canyon wall. In 1914, the Fred Harvey company commissioned Mary Colter to design the building on the promontory to compete with nearby Kolb Studio and draw visitors away from that rival. Colter created an organic design that captivated visitors and blended into the natural surroundings, making it difficult to tell where her walls ended and the canyon walls began. Originally named "The Lookout," it was conceived as a leisurely space where visitors could gaze upon the canyon and purchase souvenir photos and postcards. A 1915 brochure called it a tiny rustic club with bright hued Navajo rugs, electric lights, a cozy fireplace, and many easy chairs. Mary Elizabeth Jane Colter also designed the Hopi House in 1905 and Hermits Rest in 1914, and her pioneering, distinctive style helped shape the architecture of the Southwest and the national parks.

Grand Canyon Village, Arizona · United States