Mary Elizabeth Jane Colter, Watchtower

Title: Mary Elizabeth Jane Colter, Watchtower
Creator: Colter, Mary Elizabeth Jane
Biographical Text: Four story watchtower contains an interior steel and concrete framework with a facade of locally sourced rocks and timber. The tower is 30 feet in diameter at the base and tapers to 24 feet in diameter at the top. It stands 70 feet tall.
The Desert View Watchtower is based off of similar towers found at Hovenweep and the Round Tower of Mesa Verde. The interior is decorated with artwork and murals done by local indigenous artists. The watchtower was designed so that visitors would have a unique view of the Grand Canyon. The tower is recognized as a National Historic Landmark.
For decades, the View Room was used as a retail space. However, in 2015, it was transformed back to its original purpose: to serve as an area where visitors could relax and take in the views of the canyon. Today, the tower is open to the public for tours. Throughout the year, local indigenous artists perform cultural demonstrations.
Date Created: 1932
Date Modified: 2015
Type: English Building
Bibliographic Citation: Desert View Watchtower, National Park Service; The Story of the Desert View Watchtower, National Park Service; Desert View Watchtower, Hidden Architecture
Project Researcher: Bysterbusch, Hailey

Where are the women?