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Kolb Studio Roof Replacement: A Grand Legacy

Preserving the place that made Grand Canyon a National Park.

Kolb Studio Roof nps m quinn65

Some buildings define places, often in unexpected ways. In the vast, majestic expanses of Grand Canyon National Park, most anything built by human hands seems rather unremarkable. To most observers, for example, Kolb Studio looks like an old, large log cabin clinging to the South Rim.

Yet, Kolb Studio is central to Grand Canyon's story. Built in 1905 by brothers and photographers Emery and Ellsworth Kolb, their studio was the place from which Grand Canyon became a national treasure. 

The Kolb brothers' photographs generated so much widespread love and awe that Grand Canyon achieved National Park status fourteen years later. Moreover, their studio became one of Grand Canyon's first tourist attractions, and their photos are still used today to tell the park's story.

But age takes its toll, and to remain open to the public, Kolb Studio's roof required critical safety and structural work. Thanks to GCC donors, the roof was replaced with certified hand-split, hand-sawn, and fire-treated cedar roofing shingles to ensure that Kolb Studio retains as much of its original character as possible. Roof repairs were completed in November of 2024 to prevent future damage from both fire and moisture. 

Ed keable grca headshot min

Ed Keable

Superintendent Grand Canyon National Park

“Kolb Studio stands as one of the most significant landmarks on the South Rim. It is vital to ensure this remarkable building keeps inspiring future generations of park visitors.”

Project Donors

National Park Foundation
William E. Sweeney, Jr.
Frances R. Rockwell

Project Partners

Grand Canyon National Park
Grand Canyon Conservancy
Loven Contracting