Cultural Landscape Inventory: Cross Canyon
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1 National Park Service Cultural Landscape Inventory April 2013 Cross Canyon Corridor Historic District Grand Canyon National Park 2 Contents Page 3 Inventory Unit Summary and Site Plan Page 24 Concurrence Status Page 25 Geographic Information and Location Maps Page 38 Management Information Page 39 National Register Information Page 49 Chronology and Physical History Page 151 Analysis and Evaluation Page 328 Condition Page 330 Treatment Page 331 Biography and Supplemental Information 3 Inventory Unit Summary and Site Plan Inventory Unit Cultural Landscape Inventory Name: Cross Canyon Corridor Historic District Cultural Landscape Inventory Number: Parent Cultural Landscape Inventory Name: Grand Canyon National Park Landscape Parent Cultural Landscape Inventory Number: 85011 Park Name: Grand Canyon National Park Park Alpha Code: GRCA Park Org Code: 8210 Landscape/Component Landscape Description: This document constitutes a Cultural Landscape Inventory (CLI) for the Cross Canyon Corridor Historic District (District), a component landscape of Grand Canyon National Park (GRCA). For the purposes of this CLI, the component landscape is further divided into ten contiguous Landscape Areas: Bright Angel Trail Landscape Area Indian Garden Landscape Area Colorado River Trail Landscape Area Phantom Ranch Landscape Area South Kaibab Trail Landscape Area Yaki Point (South Kaibab Trailhead) Landscape Area North Kaibab Trail Landscape Area Bright Angel Campground Landscape Area Cottonwood Campground Landscape Area Roaring Springs Landscape Area The period of significance for the Cross Canyon Corridor Historic District is from AD 1891 to 1942. The information for the Cross Canyon Corridor Historic District contained herein was developed from research and two field visits which were completed in 2009 and 2011. The information for the Bright Angel Trail Landscape Area, the Indian Garden Landscape Area, and the Colorado River Trail Landscape Area were adapted from the Bright Angel Trail Corridor (BAT) CLI prepared by Logan Simpson Design Inc. (LSD) in 2010. Information regarding the Indian Garden Landscape Area contained in the BAT CLI was derived from the Indian Garden Cultural Landscape Report, prepared in June 2005 by John Milner Associates, Inc. (JMA). In addition, basic information about the Cross Canyon Corridor Historic District as well as the Landscape Areas contained within it has been incorporated from existing National Register Nominations for the Cross Canyon Corridor Historic District, the North Kaibab Trail, the South Kaibab Trail, the Bright Angel Trail, and the Colorado River Trail, as well as a multiple property listing for historic trails and roads in the Grand Canyon (Anderson et al. 2008). The Cross Canyon Corridor Historic District nomination was prepared by the Denver Service Center of the National Park Service (NPS) in 1980. GRCA trails historian, Mike Anderson, and others prepared individual nominations for the trails in 1991 and 1992 and subsequently revised them in 2002 and 2010. 4 BRIGHT ANGEL TRAIL LANDSCAPE AREA The Bright Angel Trail is approximately 7.8 miles in length and traverses almost 4,800 feet of elevation change from the South Rim of the Grand Canyon to the Colorado River. Before reaching the Colorado River, the Bright Angel Trail intersects with the Colorado River Trail which continues 1.8 miles to its terminus at Phantom Ranch. From its inception, the trail has functioned as a transportation corridor for Native Americans, miners and prospectors, North and South Rim residents, and recreationists. For this reason, it remains the GRCA’s most traveled trail and is considered the safest because of its regular maintenance and facilities that supply shade, potable water, and emergency phones, and a consistent ranger presence. While Niles Cameron, Pete Berry and others are credited with initially “building” the Bright Angel Trail in 1890 to access mining claims in the inner Grand Canyon, the men quickly realized the true worth of their efforts would be better realized by soliciting the tourism trade and charging a toll for visitation. The use of the trail as a “toll road” became the source of much controversy and subsequent legal battles with railroad companies and the Federal Government in the early 1900s. The outcome of the legal battle resulted in the trail being deeded to the NPS in 1928. In the 1930s, the trail was extensively improved by enrollees of the Civilian Conservation Corps (CCC), resulting in the trail alignment and most of the amenities of the trail as they appear today. Contributing resources of the Bright Angel Trail Landscape Area include CCC-era built features of the trail, such as its native stone rest houses, retaining walls, steps, and the Trans-canyon Telephone Line, as well as the alignment of the trail itself. For the most part, the present-day alignment of the Bright Angel Trail and its associated features were built between 1929 and 1939. CCC reconstruction efforts along the trail during the 1930s likely removed most, if not all, of the earlier trail features built during Cameron’s initial development of the trail. On-going maintenance and repairs of the trail and its associated features during post-period of significance projects has not affected its integrity. The overall condition of the Bright Angel Trail Landscape Area remains much as it was during the period of significance and its physical condition is considered to be fair. The period of significance for the Bright Angel Trail Landscape Area is 1891 to 1942. According to National Register of Historic Places (NRHP) criteria, the Bright Angel Trail Landscape Area is significant at the national level under Criteria A, B, and C. Under Criterion A, the Bright Angel Trail is significant within the areas of Recreation and Tourism and Politics/Government, and for the landscape’s association with the CCC. The Bright Angel Trail is significant under Criterion B because of its association with Arizona entrepreneur and politician, Ralph Henry Cameron. It is also significant under Criterion C, within the area of Architecture, for its collection of NPS Rustic- style buildings. INDIAN GARDEN LANDSCAPE AREA Indian Garden is located approximately 4.5 miles along the Bright Angel Trail and can also be accessed by the Tonto Trail from the Hermit and Monument Creek areas to the west and the South Kaibab or Horseshoe Mesa areas from the east. For over 100 years, the site of Indian Garden has been used as a stopping point for hikers, campers, and mule riders, although its fertile landscape of creeks, springs, and seeps was used by Native Americans and miners for many years prior to the start of tourism (JMA 2005, I-1). Indian Garden is a palimpsest whose earlier traces of history are still faintly visible in today’s multi-layered landscape. Whether ensuing generations of management and design were based on legal negotiations, the need to rebuild due to flood damage, or the necessity of enhancing facilities for an ever-growing number of visitors, Indian Garden has been a model of how to keep pace with change. The issues that face Indian Garden most often are those that involve mitigation of water—an element that is both welcome as a source of refreshment, but is also a source of 5 apprehension when flash floods rush through the landscape. Throughout history, it is water that has both drawn people to this site and shaped the form and appearance of the cultural landscape seen today. The JMA CLR team identified the period of significance for Indian Garden as beginning in 1903 and extending through 1943. 1903 marks the year when Ralph Cameron began his tourism facilities at Indian Garden in earnest. 1943 marks the end of CCC involvement at Indian Garden and the final implementation of NPS Rustic-style design aesthetics within the landscape. Within this overall period of significance are two sub-periods: from 1903 until 1927, marking the years of Ralph Cameron’s influence at Indian Garden, and 1928 until 1943, marking the years of NPS and CCC influence upon the site. After evaluating Indian Gardens according to the NRHP’s seven aspects of historic integrity, the JMA CLR team found that Indian Garden does not retain integrity as an individual District. This finding was based on the fact that Indian Garden has undergone considerable alterations since the period of significance. These changes have impeded Indian Garden’s ability to convey its historical significance and importance within American history. For this reason, Indian Garden is not individually eligible for listing in the NHRP as a District or a site. Portions of the landscape, however, including all contributing resources, were included in the Bright Angel Trail Corridor National Register nomination and should also be included in the Cross Canyon Corridor National Register nomination so they are preserved and protected as part of the park’s management plans. Historic areas within the Indian Garden Landscape Area consist of the Bright Angel Trail, Day Use Area, Pump Station and Corral Area, and North Indian Garden Area. The overall condition of the Indian Garden Landscape Area portion of the component landscape is considered to be fair. Although Indian Garden may not retain integrity sufficient for NRHP eligibility, it is still an important historic landscape within the Cross Canyon Corridor Historic District. According to guidelines provided by the NHRP, Indian Garden draws its significance in American history under Criteria A, B, and C. Under Criterion A, Indian Garden is significant within the areas of Recreation and Tourism, for the landscape’s association with tourism-related activities, and Politics/ Government, and for the landscape’s association with the CCC. Indian Garden is significant under Criterion B because of its association with Arizona entrepreneur and politician, Ralph Henry Cameron. Indian Garden is also significant under Criterion C within the area of Architecture, for its collection of NPS Rustic-style buildings. PHANTOM RANCH LANDSCAPE AREA Phantom Ranch is located on the north side of the Colorado River approximately 4,600 feet below the North Rim.