The El Tovar Hotel is an architectural wonder that seems to have sprung up out of the very rock it resides on. Opened in 1905, this sprawling multiple-level building follows the natural steps & contours of the canyon’s edge.Built of native stone, rubble masonry & large Douglas fir timbers with a distinctive roof set on several levels. A proud wooden turret juts up out of the upper level to immediately catch you eye upon arrival. The visible El Tovar coat of arms when you enter further announces that this is no ordinary historical national park lodge.Once called the most expensively constructed & appointed log house in America.
The First floor exterior is covered with log-slab siding that gives the appearance of a huge cabin while the multiple balconies, terraces, & porches lend more towards a rustic mountain chalet.The El Tovar Hotel still holds most of its rustic character & charm. It has attracted many noted guests over the years to view & explore the vast scenic panorama of one of the greatest natural wonders of the World.Presidents Theodore Roosevelt & William H. Taft along with Bernard Shaw, Albert Einstein, Author Zane Gray, & Gugliemo Marconi to name but a few.The elegant dining room ( once a favorite haunt of President Roosevelt during his stay ) offers classical & regional choices.Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/1765085
