Eyes above the Grand Canyon
Lookout Studio (also called The Lookout) is a stone observation building and gift shop perched right on the South Rim of the Grand Canyon in Grand Canyon National Park, Arizona. It offers spectacular panoramic views of the canyon and was designed both as a viewpoint and a place where early visitors could photograph and appreciate the canyon safely.
The story of Lookout Studio competing with Kolb Studio is a fascinating slice of early Grand Canyon tourism — part business rivalry, part clash of philosophies about how the canyon should be experienced.
The Kolb Brothers Arrive First (1902) Emery and Ellsworth Kolb were pioneers — literally and figuratively. They arrived at the Grand Canyon in 1902, before it became a national park. They staked a prime location right on the South Rim, near the Bright Angel Trail.
They built Kolb Studio, which served as:
- A photography studio
- A gallery
- A social hub for adventurers and explorers
The Kolbs were charismatic, daring, and deeply connected to canyon life. They:
- Photographed tourists riding mules down the Bright Angel Trail
- Sold prints when visitors returned from their trip
- Filmed and photographed early river expeditions (including a famous 1911 trip through the canyon)
Kolb Studio felt authentic, personal, and adventurous — run by canyon people, not corporations.
The Fred Harvey Company Enters the Scene
When the Santa Fe Railway made the Grand Canyon a major destination in the early 1900s, tourism exploded. The Fred Harvey Company, which ran hotels, restaurants, and services for rail travellers, wanted to:
- Control visitor experiences
- Capture tourist spending
- Offer polished, “official” amenities
They noticed something important: The Kolb brothers were making good money from photography — and Harvey wasn’t. So Harvey did what it often did best: built a competing attraction.
Commissioned by: The Santa Fe Railway and the Fred Harvey Company, at a time when the Grand Canyon was becoming a major tourist destination thanks to rail travel.
Lookout Studio Is Built (1914)
In 1914, the Fred Harvey Company commissioned architect Mary Jane Colter to design Lookout Studio, just a short distance from Kolb Studio — close enough to directly compete.