He was so excited! They find quite a few old smallish Native American ruins and petroglyphs too, so they have hired an anthropologist.
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He has some pretty funny stories. They had someone working for the park who was trying to explain one of the petroglyphs; I think it was about who was leading a horse and why or something. They went through a long detailed thought process about what it could be. One of the local Native Americans that was working there looked at Nathan (my nephew) and said, “I know what that is, they’re making the kid lead the horse, cuz I used to have to do it all the time.”
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That is absolutely amazing. I’m sure they were all Uber excited! It’s hugh! I’m showing my Dino-ingnorance, but were there T. rex in the Colorado area. Just curious😬
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You know what, I have absolutely no clue. I know very little about dinosaurs. This one apparently is just in the same family as the T Rex. Most recently I read of a juvenile T Rex being found in ND.
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This pic is for @Bmpdvm since she loves Desert Watchtower on the East Rim Drive …
If you visit, be aware that you now need tickets to go up in the tower, because they are limiting numbers due to fire code. Can’t believe they never did this previously. We had no problem and got ours right then when we stopped to visit it, but we were there during a less busy time.
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So lucky. When I was there in 2022 it was closed, so disappointing.
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Well, that was a bummer! It was only open till 5:00 the day we were there, and we made it into the last group to go up into the tower.
Great picture, took me a minute to get my perspective!. But as you know pictures don’t do it justice😄. It’s been 5-6 years since we were there (in the fall, just starting to snow!). But upside was, there were very few folks there! I love the Southwest in the fall; hoping to get back there soon! Those Kabotie murals!! Thanks for the memories!
@chicfarmer, sorry the Watchtower was closed…I wonder why?
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I know at one point they’ve done a lot of restoration in the tower and with the paintings, so I wonder if that’s what it was.
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I somewhat misspoke: the first floor gift shop was open, but the murals area was closed off to visitors, I think perhaps a late COVID restriction.
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I just found pictures; we were last there in Sept 2018…how time flys! This picture expresses how we felt in the Warchtower. Made my heart sing!
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I love it! Y’all look so happy! Are you in the pic 
Hope you don’t mind me asking.
Here’s one more from me…hubby at bottom…
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No I took the picture…we were traveling with some friends, it was such a great trip…we all met at the GC!
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Love Desertview! HF Coors in Tucson still produces Mary Colter’s mimbreno dinnerware she designed for the Santa Fe Railway— if you dig her motifs inside the tower.
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I have seen it, but had forgotten the name of the company. It’s so cool but I have no room for more dishes. Although I debated buying one of the mugs at El Tovar this year.
Last year I posted (in the non-native thread) some jewelry I found made from some of the old pottery. Of all places I found it in a little out of the way antique store in Bandon, OR many years ago. When I think about it I’m not sure we’re talking about the same line?
I believe the earrings were from some saucers, and pendant from a bowl.
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There’s another company in NM that recreates the dinnerware— Pipestone. Those are unlicensed and made in China. HF Coors are actually made in Tucson and licensed by the Santa Fe Railway.
I don’t know which company these are made by, except they were vintage from the antique store. I’m assuming what is sold at El Tovar (and I think it’s also sold at La Posada in Winslow) is what you are talking about.
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My husband said he remembers that my jewelry was supposed to have been made from the original leftover china that was on the train, not from reproductions. I had forgotten!
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Hey all y’all, I just now opened my latest issue of Arizona Highways, and and look what was featured in the lodging section 
I absolutely loved this motel. While we were there I was talking to my sister-in-law on the phone (she was taking care of my kitty while we were gone), and I said something like, “what is that flashing in the window, oh, it’s just from the disco ball.” She literally LOL’ed and said, “that’s the last thing I would have guessed you were going to say.” You can’t see it in this picture, but each room has a little disco ball.
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Cool, I can write the 100th message here. And you know, every 100th message is a special thank you 
Have studied & enjoyed every single word in this amazing discussion! Wow! Pinned sooo many cool stuff in Google maps to plan my trip.
What great AZ knowledge and recommendations in here. Thanks a ton to all of you.
Now I have to get some information about the rest of northern America LOL. Looks I could easily spend months in AZ but I’d rather wanna tour a bit further too - Hawaii, CO, NM, AZ, UT, CA (my second home in SF), WY, MT, ID, OR, WA, Banff & Jasper, and Herkimer area in NY. Have never been to the center, southeast (except FL) or the big lakes area of the US, so I’ll now do some research. Have also lived in Boston, also in the New England states there is so much to see.
Ahé’hee’ shik’is dóó shidine’é – Thank you, my friends and my people (Diné/Navajo)
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