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Grand Canyon Museum Collection: Preserving the Canyon's Legacy

Explore the Grand Canyon's past through a vast collection of artifacts and research materials, preserving the legacy of this natural wonder.

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The Grand Canyon Museum Collection is a storage and research facility housing over 1.6 million artifacts that document the Grand Canyon's natural and cultural history. While not an exhibit hall for the general public, it serves as a vital resource for researchers exploring the canyon's rich past.

A brief summary to Grand Canyon Museum Collection

Local tips

  • Note that the Museum Collection is primarily a research facility and not generally open to the public for casual visits.
  • Researchers interested in accessing the collection should visit the official National Park Service website for information on research requests and access procedures.
  • Visit the Kolb Studio, Verkamps' Visitor Center, and Yavapai Geology Museum in Grand Canyon Village for public exhibits related to the Grand Canyon's history and geology.
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Getting There

  • Walking

    The Grand Canyon Museum Collection is located at 2 Albright Ave in Grand Canyon Village. From many points within the village, including popular lodging and dining locations, it is accessible by foot. Use the free park shuttle system to reach the general vicinity if starting from the South Rim Visitor Center or other areas further away. Once in the central part of the village, follow signs towards the Park Headquarters; the Museum Collection is near this area.

  • Public Transport

    Utilize the Grand Canyon's free shuttle bus system to reach Grand Canyon Village. Several shuttle routes converge in the village, providing access from various points within the South Rim. From the Visitor Center, the Village Route (Blue Route) is the most direct option. Once in the village, walk towards the Park Headquarters to find the Museum Collection. There is no cost for the shuttle.

  • Taxi

    Taxi service is available from various points in and around the Grand Canyon South Rim, including the Grand Canyon Airport and nearby towns. A taxi from the airport to Grand Canyon Village will cost approximately $20-$30. Once in the village, request to be dropped off near the Park Headquarters. From there, the Grand Canyon Museum Collection is a short walk away.

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Discover more about Grand Canyon Museum Collection

The Grand Canyon Museum Collection is dedicated to preserving the vast history and culture of the Grand Canyon region. Completed in 1999, this research and storage facility contains over 1.6 million objects from diverse disciplines, including archeology, ethnology, history, biology, geology, and paleontology. While the Museum Collection itself is not open to the general public, it plays a crucial role in preserving the physical artifacts that tell the Grand Canyon's story. The collection is available for study and research purposes to any interested researcher. Staff receive more than 2,000 research requests each year. The collection includes a wide array of historical documents, including : * John Wesley Powell's pocket watch * The Walter Clement Powell diaries from the second Powell expedition * A pen used by Woodrow Wilson to sign the act creating Grand Canyon National Park in 1919 * Photos from the 1873 George Wheeler expedition * Over 200 oral history tapes, videos and transcripts * Over 1,000 maps and blueprints * More than 24,000 black and white photographs * Over 200 rare or out-of-print books * Over 80 hours of historic film footage * Original paintings by Thomas Moran, Louis Akin, Gunnar Widforss, Hiroshi Yoshida The document collection tells the Grand Canyon story through photos and in writing, including 350 linear feet of park archives, 1930's CCC project reports, Superintendents' Monthly Reports, 1931-1967, The Mary Colter Desert View Watchtower collection, The Louise Hinchcliffe park library vertical files, The 1935 Vegetative Study record and TWA - United airlines 1956 air accident files. To experience exhibits open to the public, visit Kolb Studio for Grand Canyon history and art, Verkamps' Visitor Center for exhibits about the history of Grand Canyon Village, and Yavapai Geology Museum for geology and paleontology exhibits.

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