Grand Canyon

Cultural Demonstration Program

 
Collage of 5 photos showing, from left to right, a silversmith cutting a design out of a silver sheet, silver jewelry with turquoise stones, a potter's hands form clay, rug being woven, man carving kachina.
 

Desert View Watchtower - Cultural Demonstrations

Demonstrations take place on Tuesday. Wednesday and Thursday.

 
Map of Desert View settlement showing parking lots and buildings.
Desert View Watchtower, where the demonstrations are held, is shown at the top of this map, adjacent to Desert View Point.

Directions to Desert View


The settlement of Desert View is located, 23 miles (37 km) east of Grand Canyon Village on Desert View Drive (Arizona State Route 64), and 30 miles (48 km) west of Cameron, Arizona, on Arizona State Route 64.

How to get to the Watchtower

Starting from the main Desert View parking area, a short .25 mile (.4 km) walk takes you past the restroom building, the Market/Deli and the Trading Post.The four story watchtower is located at Desert View Point.

 
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On the edge of a canyon cliff, a circular stone tower 70 feet tall
Desert View Watchtower

About the Program

Grand Canyon is the ancestral homeland to numerous tribes and is considered a sacred landscape. There are 11 federally recognized tribes that maintain cultural connections to the Grand Canyon today.

The purpose of the Cultural Demonstration Program is to elevate the voices of members from the traditionally associated tribes. Demonstrations allow visitors to Grand Canyon National Park the opportunity to meet Indigenous Artists while they practice traditional and modern crafts. The program began in 2014 and continues to grow to this day.

We gratefully acknowledge the tribal communities on whose ancestral homelands we gather, as well as the diverse and vibrant Native communities who make their home here today: Diné (Navajo), Havasupai, Hualapai, Hopi, Yavapai-Apache, Kaibab band of Southern Paiute, Las Vegas band of Southern Paiute, Moapa band of Southern Paiute, Paiute Indian Tribes of Utah, San Juan Southern Paiute Tribe, and Zuni.

Demonstrations are free and open to the public and take place at various Desert View locations, most often in and around Desert View Watchtower.

This program is made possible by grants from Grand Canyon Conservancy to cover costs like supplies, demonstrators' travel, and their time.

 

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First Voices Film Series

Enjoy these vignettes of the Cultural Demonstration Program, filmed on location, to further understand the spirit of the program. Be sure to experience Grand Canyon's robust culture's through the Cultural Demonstration Program when you visit the park. To watch as a playlist, visit the park's YouTube channel.

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
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Grand Canyon Visitor Center Parking Map shows the highway making a turn to the left and forming a large "u" shape around four large parking lots with the Visitor Center plaza surrounded by the parking lots.

During Winter Months

Demonstrations take place at Grand Canyon Visitor Center on the South Rim between 10 am and 4 pm, during December, January and February.

Directions:

From the South Entrance Station, continue following the road you are on for 5 miles, and it will lead you to the Visitor Center.

Just before the parking areas, the road curves to the left. You can park your vehicle in one of four parking areas and find your way to the Visitor Center, within the large, open plaza.

In the plaza are stand-alone restroom buildings, the park store and a bicycle rental/coffee bar with grab-and-go sandwiches and snacks.

Last updated: December 7, 2024

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Contact Info

Mailing Address:

PO Box 129
Grand Canyon, AZ 86023

Phone:

928-638-7888

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