El Tovar

I have visited the Grand Canyon several times, and on a couple of those visits we stayed at El Tovar. Located beside the South Rim, the hotel placed us within steps of the canyon and allowed us to explore in the early morning, before many of the day’s visitors had arrived. At that hour, the trails and overlooks were quieter, the air was cooler, and the changing morning light revealed the canyon gradually.

El Tovar opened in January 1905, fourteen years before Grand Canyon National Park was established. It was built by the Atchison, Topeka and Santa Fe Railway and operated by the Fred Harvey Company, whose hotels and restaurants helped introduce generations of railroad travelers to the American West. The nearby railway depot allowed guests to step from the train into what was then considered one of the finest hotels west of the Mississippi River.

Designed by railroad architect Charles Whittlesey, El Tovar combined elements of a European hunting lodge, Swiss chalet, and rustic Western retreat. Constructed with local limestone and Oregon pine, it was intended to complement its dramatic setting while providing visitors with the comforts of a first-class resort. Its dark wood, broad porches, stonework, and irregular roofline helped influence the rustic architectural style later associated with America’s national parks.

El Tovar was designated a National Historic Landmark in 1987 and remains one of the Grand Canyon’s most recognizable buildings. Staying there connected us not only with the landscape but also with more than a century of travelers who have awakened beside the canyon. Being able to walk outside in the early morning and experience the South Rim before the activity of the day began became one of the most memorable parts of our visits.