Grand Canyon Village is a National Historic Landmark District and the largest developed area in Grand Canyon National Park.
Located on the South Rim of the canyon, this is where you will find most of the major visitor services and facilities.
All year long, Grand Canyon Village bustles with people from around the world here to experience one of nature’s greatest masterpieces.
You’ll want to set aside enough time to drive through Grand Canyon Village to see all of its historic preservation buildings and breathtaking views.
Make your first stop at the Grand Canyon Visitor Center, just off US-64. Here you can pick up a detailed map of the park, get directions to services and attractions, buy snacks and souvenirs, explore the exhibits in the Tusayan Museum or watch a film about the canyon in the IMAX theater. The center is open year-round, every day except Christmas Day. Admissions are free.
Desert View Watchtower is a popular attraction along the South Rim with great views of the Grand Canyon. You can see for miles from the 70-foot high tower, which makes Desert View Tower a must-see destination.
Desert View Watchtower is a National Historic Landmark designed by Mary Colter to mimic cliff dwellings of Ancestral Pueblo peoples. The lower level of the tower features Native American art and artifacts on display, as well as exhibits about Grand Canyon geology. A gift shop and snack bar are located on-site.
You’ll find the Yavapai Geology Museum inside Grand Canyon Village, steps away from the South Rim shuttle buses and a short walk from Market Plaza. You can explore the museum’s exhibits for free, but there’s also a ranger-led tour that lasts about 30 minutes. This is an excellent way to learn about the formation of the Grand Canyon and its rocks. The tour includes a visit to the museum’s panorama room, which features one of only two three-dimensional models of the Grand Canyon in existence.
The museum is open every day from 9:00 am–5:00 pm (9:30 am–5:30 pm March 15 through October 15). There are no fees or reservations required; just show up!
This historic building was designed by Mary Elizabeth Jane Colter, the same architect responsible for several other renowned buildings in Grand Canyon Village.
Hopi House was built to resemble an ancient pueblo and it originally served as a gift and curio shop. It was added to the National Register of Historic Places in 1987.
Verkamp’s Visitor Center is a building with a rich history. It originally opened as a general store in 1898, but was closed in 1930 and later turned into a visitor center for the National Park Service. Verkamp’s is located in Grand Canyon Village near Kolb Studio.
The center offers educational exhibits that include the village’s historic structures, National Park Service programs, the geology of the Grand Canyon, and more. You can also shop at the bookstore or grab something to eat at one of the restaurants or cafes nearby.
You can visit this center anytime during daylight hours as it remains open all year long. At night, it turns into an astronomy education station where park rangers point out stars and other points of interest in the universe through telescopes. Admission to this free service is on a first-come, first-served basis and depends on the availability of staff members and weather conditions.
The Grand Canyon Village Historic District is a National Historic Landmark and contains the most extensive collection of historic structures within the national park system. The village is located on the South Rim of the canyon, with views over the vast chasm below. It was established in 1901 as a railway terminus but grew very quickly into what is now one of Arizona’s most popular tourist destinations.
The district includes more than 70 historic buildings where you can enjoy ranger programs, shopping, dining, and more. If you’re looking for things to do at Grand Canyon, be sure to check out Hopi House, El Tovar Hotel, and Kolb Studio to learn about life from days gone by. You can also catch an IMAX movie or take a guided tour of the area.
“If you’re interested in learning more about Grand Canyon South Rim and the surrounding National Park, check out the following links.
