National Register of Historic Places Registration Form
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NPS Form 10-900 OMB No. 1024-0018 (Expires 5/31/2012) United States Department of the Interior National Park Service National Register of Historic Places Registration Form This form is for use in nominating or requesting determinations for individual properties and districts. See instructions in National Register Bulletin, How to Complete the National Register of Historic Places Registration Form. If any item does not apply to the property being documented, enter "N/A" for "not applicable." For functions, architectural classification, materials, and areas of significance, enter only categories and subcategories from the instructions. Place additional certification comments, entries, and narrative items on continuation sheets if needed (NPS Form 10-900a). 1. Name of Property historic name Bright Angel Trail and Colorado River Trail Corridor Historic District other names/site number Bright Angel Toll Road; Cameron Trail; Colorado River Trail 2. Location street & number Grand Canyon National Park not for publication city or town Grand Canyon Village vicinity state Arizona code AZ county Coconino code 005 zip code 86023 3. State/Federal Agency Certification As the designated authority under the National Historic Preservation Act, as amended, I hereby certify that this nomination X_ request for determination of eligibility meets the documentation standards for registering properties in the National Register of Historic Places and meets the procedural and professional requirements set forth in 36 CFR Part 60. In my opinion, the property _ meets _ does not meet the National Register Criteria. I recommend that this property be considered significant at the following level(s) of significance: X national statewide local ____________________________________ Signature of certifying official Date _____________________________________ Title State or Federal agency/bureau or Tribal Government In my opinion, the property meets does not meet the National Register criteria. ____________________________________ Signature of commenting official Date ___________________ _________ Title State or Federal agency/bureau or Tribal Government 4. National Park Service Certification I, hereby, certify that this property is: entered in the National Register determined eligible for the National Register determined not eligible for the National Register removed from the National Register other (explain:) ________________________________________________________________________________ ____________________________________ Signature of the Keeper Date of Action 1 Bright Angel Trail and Colorado River Trail Coconino County, Arizona Corridor Historic District Name of Property County and State 5. Classification Ownership of Property Category of Property Number of Resources within Property (Check as many boxes as apply) (Check only one box) (Do not include previously listed resources in the count.) Contributing Noncontributing private building(s) 6 4 buildings public - Local X district district public - State site 1 1 site X public - Federal structure 8 4 structure object object 15 9 Total Name of related multiple property listing Number of contributing resources previously (Enter "N/A" if property is not part of a multiple property listing) listed in the National Register N/A 1 6. Function or Use Historic Functions Current Functions (Enter categories from instructions) (Enter categories from instructions) RECREATION AND CULTURE/ outdoor RECREATION AND CULTURE/ outdoor recreation/ hiking trail recreation/ hiking trail RECREATION AND CULTURE/ outdoor RECREATION AND CULTURE/ outdoor recreation/ campground recreation/ campground TRANSPORTATION/ pedestrian related TRANSPORTATION/ pedestrian related LANDSCAPE/ park LANDSCAPE/ park 7. Description Architectural Classification Materials (Enter categories from instructions) (Enter categories from instructions) Other: NPS Rustic foundation: Earth walls: STONE/ sandstone/limestone/granite roof: WOOD; ASPHALT; ASBESTOS other: STONE site features 2 NPS Form 10-900 OMB No. 1024-0018 (Expires 5/31/2012) Narrative Description (Describe the historic and current physical appearance of the property. Explain contributing and noncontributing resources if necessary. Begin with a summary paragraph that briefly describes the general characteristics of the property, such as its location, setting, size, and significant features.) Summary Paragraph The Bright Angel Trail and Colorado River Trail Corridor Historic District encompasses one of two fully maintained hiking routes into the central corridor of the Grand Canyon from its South Rim. The trail itself, which spans a distance of approximately 9.6 miles and traverses nearly 4,800 feet of elevation change, begins at the Bright Angel trailhead, located just west of the Bright Angel Lodge on Village Loop Road and follows the course of Garden Creek to the Colorado River. At the river, the trail converges with the Colorado River Trail and extends 1.8 miles to its terminus at Phantom Ranch. From its inception, the Bright Angel Trail has functioned as a transportation corridor for prehistoric and historic Native American occupants of the Canyon. The trail has subsequently been improved by rim residents, miners, and the National Park Service. The district is comprised of approximately 100.2 acres and encompasses the trail itself as well as one property, the Trans-Canyon Telephone Line, which has been previously listed on the National Register of Historic Places. Contributing resources consist of buildings and structures developed along the trail during its period of significance (1890- 1942), as well Indian Garden (treated as a contributing site). Non-contributing resources consist of buildings and structures that have been constructed after the period of significance or have undergone modern renovations and no longer retain sufficient integrity to contribute to the district. Small-scale elements of the landscape such as vegetation, circulation, viewsheds, cultural traditions (as evidenced by continued use of mules as pack animals on the trail), and infrastructure are also important features of the trail corridor and are treated for purposes of this nomination as a single contributing site. Narrative Description See continuation sheets. 3 Bright Angel Trail and Colorado River Trail Coconino County, Arizona Corridor Historic District Name of Property County and State 8. Statement of Significance Applicable National Register Criteria Areas of Significance (Mark "x" in one or more boxes for the criteria qualifying the property (Enter categories from instructions) for National Register listing) Politics/Government A Property is associated with events that have made a X significant contribution to the broad patterns of our Entertainment/Recreation history. Transportation B Property is associated with the lives of persons X significant in our past. Architecture Engineering C Property embodies the distinctive characteristics X of a type, period, or method of construction or represents the work of a master, or possesses high Period of Significance artistic values, or represents a significant and distinguishable entity whose components lack 1890-1942 individual distinction. Property has yielded, or is likely to yield, information D important in prehistory or history. Significant Dates 1928: NPS acquisition of Bright Angel Trail Criteria Considerations (Mark "x" in all the boxes that apply) 1933: CCC begin work at Grand Canyon 1942: CCC is abolished, CCC-era improvements complete Property is: Significant Person owned by a religious institution or used for religious (Complete only if Criterion B is marked above) A purposes. Ralph Henry Cameron B removed from its original location. C a birthplace or grave. Cultural Affiliation N/A D a cemetery. E a reconstructed building, object, or structure. F a commemorative property. Architect/Builder G less than 50 years old or achieving significance within the past 50 years. 4 Bright Angel Trail and Colorado River Trail Coconino County, Arizona Corridor Historic District Name of Property County and State Period of Significance (justification) The period of significance for the Bright Angel Trail and Colorado River Trail Corridor Historic District has been selected to frame the development of the historic vernacular landscape. The period of significance extends from 1890, when Ralph Cameron and other speculators developed the trail as a toll road for both mining and tourist enterprises, through 1942, when the Civilian Conservation Corps was disbanded and CCC modifications to the trail ceased. While the trail continues to serve in modern times as one of the principal transportation routes into the central corridor of the Grand Canyon, modifications to the Bright Angel Trail and Colorado River Trail Corridor Historic District continue to reflect the vernacular characteristics of CCC and NPS architecture prominent in the park during the 1920s and 1930s. Criteria Considerations (explanation, if necessary) N/A Statement of Significance Summary Paragraph (provide a summary paragraph that includes level of significance and applicable criteria) The Bright Angel Trail and Colorado River Trail Corridor Historic District, located within the Grand Canyon National Park, Coconino County, Arizona, is significant under National Register Criterion A in the areas of Politics and Government, Entertainment and Recreation, and Transportation, and under National Register Criterion C in the areas of Architecture and Engineering. Since its inception, the Bright Angel Trail corridor has