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Home/Canyon Column/2016 Archives/Mary Jane Colter’s “Watchtower” Receives Major Funding

Mary Jane Colter’s “Watchtower” Receives Major Funding

Desert View Watchtower | Photo by Mike Buchheit
Desert View Watchtower | Photo by Mike Buchheit

Partners in Preservation, a collaboration between American Express and the National Trust for Historic Preservation, recently announced $2 million in grants that it will disburse in support of historic places throughout the National Park System.

Twenty parks will split the windfall, with three receiving $250,000 each. This includes Grand Canyon National Park for rehabilitation of the Watchtower, Mary Jane Colter’s iconic stone tower that anchors the east entrance of the park at Desert View on the South Rim.

Awards were made based on online voting, and the Watchtower project came in third after receiving nearly 100,000 votes out of 1.1 million cast.

Grand Canyon Association, the official nonprofit partner of Grand Canyon National Park since 1932 (coincidentally the same year construction on the Watchtower was completed), spearheaded the campaign, and will receive and administer the grant on behalf of Grand Canyon National Park. The grant will allow much needed repairs to this heavily-visited attraction.

The structure, which changed hands to the NPS from Xanterra South Rim, LLC, in January of this year, has become a nexus for Native American cultural demonstrations.

Published on: July 15, 2016

Categories: 2016 Archives, Canyon ColumnTags: American Express, Desert View Watchtower, Grand Canyon Association, grant, Mary Jane Colter, National Trust for Historic Preservation, Partners in Preservation, rehabilitation

About Mike Buchheit

Mike Buchheit was the director of the Grand Canyon Conservancy Field Institute for over 25 years, a professional landscape photographer and instructor, a freelance travel writer, and a popular lecturer on a wide variety of Grand Canyon-related topics. As a long-time resident, 3,000-mile hiker, and frequent river runner, the Iowa native has gained an intimate knowledge of the park that he called home.

As a long-time resident, 3,000-mile hiker, and frequent river runner, the Iowa native has gained an intimate knowledge of the park that he calls home. You can see some of his beautiful work on his Grand Canyon Prints website.

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