The Grand Canyon, as seen from the South Rim at the elevation of approximately 6,500 feet.

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On our road trip from Los Angeles to Austin, Texas, we made a brief stop at the famous Hoover Dam, once known as Boulder Dam on the border between Arizona and Nevada. It was constructed during the Great Depression and dedicated on September 30, 1935, by Franklin D. Roosevelt.

Architect Gordon B. Kaufmann, Supervising Architect of the Bureau of Reclamation designed the project in an elegant Art Deco style, sculpting the turrets for the dam face and clocks on the intake towers set for the time in Arizona and Nevada. The structure is listed in the U.S. National Register of Historic Places and is a U.S. National Historic Landmark.

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Tags:   Historic Route 66 archiref Michael Locke Michael Locke, Photographer Michael Locke, Realtor

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Cosanti is the gallery, studio and residence of Italian-American architect Paolo Soleri. best known for Arcosanti, the prototypical arcological community founded in 1970 in the remote high desert, about seventy miles north of Phoenix, Arizona The many structures at Cosanti include the original "Earth House" (which is partially underground), student dormitories, outdoor studios, performance space, and Soleri's residence, set in the midst of courtyards, terraces, and garden paths. Donna and I padi a visit on the return from our road trip to Austin, Texas, September 14-28, 2011. Cosanti is an Arizona Historic Site located at 6433 E. Doubletree Ranch Rd.
Paradise Valley, AZ.

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Built in 1950 by Arizona motel owner Chester E. Lewis, the plans were based on the original of Frank A. Redford. Lewis first became aware of the distinctive wigwam designs when he was passing through Cave City in 1938. He purchased the rights to Redford's design, as well as the right to use the name "Wigwam Village" in a novel royalty agreement: coin operated radios would be installed in Lewis' Wigwam Village, and every dime inserted for 30 minutes of play would be sent to Redford as payment.

Lewis operated the motel successfully until closing it in 1974 when Interstate 40 bypassed downtown Holbrook. Two years after his death in 1986, sons Clifton, Paul Lewis and daughter Elinor renovated the motel, finally reopening it in 1988.

Fifteen concrete and steel teepees are arranged as a square with one edge missing where the main office is located. They are numbered from 1 to 16 (there is no teepee 13). Behind the main room of each unit is a small bathroom with sink, toilet, and shower. Current rooms contain the original restored hickory furniture, two double beds, cable TV and a window mounted air conditioner; there are no telephones or Internet access. Vintage restored automobiles from the 1960's and earlier are located throughout the parking area. Small green metal benches etched with the words "Wigwam Village #6" are scattered throughout the complex as well.

Tags:   Holbrook Holbrook, AZ Michael Locke Wigwam Motel “NikonflickrAward” Historic Route 66 greatphotographers Michael Locke, Photographer Michael Locke, Realtor Michael Locke, Editor

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Near Williams, Arizona.

Tags:   Grand Canyon National Park Michael Locke Michael Locke, Photographer Michael Locke, Realtor

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