New Exhibits Bring Geology of the Grand Canyon to Life

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“We are extremely excited about the renovation of Yavapai Observation Station, along with the new exhibits that tell the story of Grand Canyon’s geology. This is but the first step, as we continue to forge opportunities for connections between our park visitors and the incredible Grand Canyon.”

Steve Martin
Superintendent
Grand Canyon National Park

Yavapai Observation Station Re-Dedicated

On May 24, 2007, the National Park Service re-dedicated the historic Yavapai Observation Station—originally called the Yavapai Point Trailside Museum—on the South Rim of the Grand Canyon. New geology exhibits, consistent with the vision of the building’s designers to “make the out-of-doors intelligible,” were also unveiled.

The original structure, which was first dedicated in July 1928, was designed by architect Herbert C. Maier. The building was erected on a site selected by a team of geologists for the express purpose of observing and understanding Grand Canyon geology. Maier, who also designed Park Service museums at Norris Geyser Basin in Yellowstone National Park and at Glacier Point in Yosemite National Park, designed the Yavapai Point Trailside Museum to blend into its setting, and used indigenous Kaibab limestone and ponderosa pine in its construction.

The rehabilitation of the structure and the design of the new exhibits was a Federal Lands Recreation Enhancement Act project, with funding coming directly from park entrance fees. The new exhibits, consistent with the vision of the building’s original proponents, focus on the geologic story of the Grand Canyon.

Top: This series of interconnected exhibits form a sweeping arc across the rear room of the Yavapai Observation Station. They introduce the three steps of rock formation and the variety of their associated rock types; convey a sense of the long period of time required to build up the canyon rocks; and explain formation of the rocks in the context of a dynamic planet with illustrations of plate tectonics, climage changes, and fluctuations in sea level.

Above: Finished model of the South Rim canyon wall.

Above Right: An employee of exhibit contractor Chase Studio carves the North Rim model from laminated layers of foam.

Below: Tactile exhibit panels describe the geological processes that helped form the Grand Canyon.

NPS photos by Chris Dearing.

Staff at Grand Canyon National Park, working closely with exhibit planners and designers at Harpers Ferry Center and with exhibit fabrication contractors Chase Studio and Southern Custom Exhibits, guided the planning, design, and fabrication of the new exhibits. Through the efforts of this entire team, the new exhibits allow park visitors to experience and understand the complicated geologic story of the Grand Canyon. Even more importantly, the exhibits serve as a catalyst for visitors to seek out canyon resources on their own, and to experience intellectually and emotionally the powerful geologic processes still at work on the canyon today.

The Yavapai exhibits explain the deposition of the rock layers, the uplift of the Colorado Plateau, and the carving of the Grand Canyon. Displays include beautifully crafted artwork, three-dimensional models, powerful photographs, and interpretive panels which allow park visitors to see and understand the complicated geologic story of the Grand Canyon. Visitors can also view video footage of the Colorado River and diverse views of the canyon landscape. A computer animation depicts sea encroachment and retreat, showing millions of years of geological events in less than thirty seconds.