Grand Canyon

the Watchtower was originally built in 1932 by Mary Elizabeth Jane Cutler.  It was intended to replicate many of the towers that are found in the Southwest.  This is the original tower.  The tower was used as a means of food storage and also for defense from attackers.  By the use of a ladder they would climb up to the several landings and then pull the ladders up after them.  Thus the attacking tribe could not gain access.

 

Inside Looking down from next level

   

There are stairs on the inside that wind around the outside of the tower that allow access to the levels of the tower.  You can go up three levels. The fourth level is the roof.  They will not allow you to go up to the roof.  The picture below is a huge wall Murial the is on the first level of the tower.

This Murial is an attempt to capture the various forms of Native American Art collected from various sources.  The large picture is a depiction of the Kiva.  The tower is constructed  There is a large fireplace on the first level that is the vent for the fireplace in the main store.   The stairs inside are a modern invention that would represent the ladders used anciently inside the structure.  Sister Gardner would not climb up.

Wall Murial

This is the remains of an ancient Kiva or ceremonial circle.  The fire pit can be seen
in the middle of the circle. This is in the Tusayan ruins.

The statue above is Elder Gardner.  I get kidded about the rigid poses that I take when I have my picture taken.  I am in front of an area that is a living quarters.   To the right this is a picture of a series of circles that were used for food storage and living quarters.

 We are allowed to visit the various sites in our mission.  The East Entrance to the Grand Canyon is about 40 miles south of Bitter Springs.

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These are pictures of the Grand Canyon.  In the far distance from where Sister Gardner is standing you can see Echo Cliffs area that runs the length of our branch.  From Lees Ferry to the Gap.

It is amazing to me that is some of the areas the Oriental tourists would crawl over the fences and go to the outer edges to get a better picture.  One can only guess what is in the small cavity called "the brain".           The canyon is immense.  The drop-off in some of the observation areas are over a mile.  One wonders why you would walk to the edge of a point just to get a better picture.

This sweet Native American lady is picking up Pinyon nuts of the ground.  I went over and helped her pick up some nuts and put them in her sack and she offered me a key chain to thank me.  The "season" for Pinyon nuts is in full force.  They are the size of a large watermelon seed.  When the are ripe the cone bursts and the nuts are on the ground.