El Tovar Stables facts for kids
Quick facts for kids |
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El Tovar Stables
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 Location in Arizona
Location in the United States
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| Location | Off Grand Canyon National Park Rte. 8A, Grand Canyon, Arizona |
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| Area | 7 acres (2.8 ha) |
| Built | c.1904 |
| NRHP reference No. | 74000336 |
| Added to NRHP | September 6, 1974 |
The El Tovar Stables are a group of old buildings at the Grand Canyon in Arizona. They were built around 1904, at the same time as the famous El Tovar Hotel. These stables were very important for housing the animals, like horses and mules, that helped people get around the Grand Canyon in the early 1900s.
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The El Tovar Stables: A Historic Home for Grand Canyon Mules
The El Tovar Stables were once known as the "transportation department." This group of buildings included a large barn for horses, a smaller barn for mules, and a special shop for blacksmiths. Blacksmiths are people who shape metal, often to make or repair things like horseshoes.
The Buildings of El Tovar Stables
The stables are made of wood. The lower part of the walls has a special siding called board-and-batten, and the upper part has wood shingles. The roofs are covered with green asphalt shingles.
The Horse Barn
The horse barn is the biggest building. It is about 140 feet (43 meters) long and 60 feet (18 meters) wide. It used to be even longer, but part of it was lost in a fire. Inside, the horse barn has two main areas. The east side was likely used for wagons. The west side has two floors. The top floor was for storage, and it has three rooms that were used for keeping supplies. Downstairs, there are open stalls on one side and closed stalls on the other. A large cupola, which is a small dome-like structure, sits on top of the building.
The Mule Barn
The mule barn looks similar to the horse barn but is smaller. It measures about 90 feet (27 meters) long and 60 feet (18 meters) wide. Like the horse barn, it has an upper and lower level. The stalls inside are enclosed, but they have open ends. The mule barn also has a cupola, but it is a bit smaller than the one on the horse barn.
The Blacksmith Shop
The blacksmith shop is shaped like the letter "L". The main part is about 50 feet (15 meters) long and 25 feet (7.6 meters) wide, with an extra section that sticks out about 35 feet (11 meters). The outside of the blacksmith shop matches the other two buildings. Inside, it is divided into three rooms. One of these rooms still has two blacksmith's forges, which are special ovens used for heating metal.
Still in Use Today
Even today, these historic buildings are still used! They house and support the famous mule trains that carry visitors and supplies down to the Phantom Ranch at the very bottom of the Grand Canyon.
A Historic Landmark
The El Tovar Stables and blacksmith shop are very important historically. They were added to the National Register of Historic Places on September 6, 1974. This means they are recognized as special places that should be protected. They are also part of the Grand Canyon Village Historic District, which is a larger area recognized as a National Historic Landmark.
