Grand Canyon Village in Coconino County, Arizona — The American Mountains (Southwest)

Buckey's Cabin

Photographed by James Hulse, June 21, 2024

1. Buckey's Cabin Marker

Inscription. This cabin is the only remaining building from the early pioneer settlement era of Grand Canyon Village. Built on this site in 1895 by William Owen "Buckey" O'Neill, the two-room office and bunkhouse - complete with v-notched logs, rough mortar chinking, and a native stone chimney - was the rustic home of Buckey and his wife while they operated a small hotel here on the South Rim. The consummate entrepreneur, Buckey improved the Bright Angel Trail and camp at Indian Garden and promoted the Grand Canyon railroad to benefit both his tourism and mining interests.

A born soldier, a born leader of men. He was a wild, reckless fellow, soft-spoken, and of dauntless courage and boundless ambition.
-Theodore Roosevelt, praising fellow "Rough Rider" Buckey O'Neill

Captions
At age 19, Buckey O'Neill's restless spirit drove him from Washington, DC, to the western territories in 1879. There he worked as a lawyer, newspaperman, sheriff, mayor, superintendent of public schools, gambler, miner, congressional candidate, adventurer, and soldier. At the outbreak of the Spanish-American War, Buckey signed up and served as one of Theodore Roosevelt's "Rough Riders." He was killed in action on July 1, 1898.

Bright Angel Hotel with Buckey's Cabin, 1897

Erected by Grand

Paid Advertisement

Click or scan to see
this page online

Canyon, National Park Service, U.S. Department of the Interior.

Topics. This historical marker is listed in these topic lists: Architecture • Industry & Commerce • War, Spanish-American. A significant historical date for this entry is July 1, 1898.

Location. 36° 3.449′ N, 112° 8.478′ W. Marker is in Grand Canyon Village, Arizona, in Coconino County. It is on North Village Loop west of El Tovar Street. The marker is located on the north side of the cabin by the rim trail. Touch for map. Marker is at or near this postal address: 11 North Village Loop, Grand Canyon AZ 86023, United States of America. Touch for directions.

Regionally, this marker is in Flagstaff & High Country

and in Hopi.

It is also in the American Southwest,

in the Mountain West,

in Colorado Plateau,

and at the Four Corners.

Globally, it is in North America,

the Western Hemisphere,

the Western World,

and the Anglosphere.

Historically, it finds itself in what was once New Spain

and also Mexico’s Alta California.

Other nearby markers. At least 8 other markers are within walking distance of this marker: The Lookout (a few steps from this marker); Bright Angel Lodge

The Buckey's Cabin and Marker image. Click for full size.

Photographed by James Hulse, June 21, 2024

2. The Buckey's Cabin and Marker

(within shouting distance of this marker); a different marker also named Bright Angel Lodge (within shouting distance of this marker); Historic Kolb Studio (about 400 feet away); Kolb Studio (about 500 feet away); Bright Angel Cabin 88 & 89 (about 500 feet away); Grand Canyon Village (about 600 feet away); Trans-Canyon Telephone Line (about 700 feet away). Touch for a list and map of all markers in Grand Canyon Village.

Other markers no longer nearby. Buckey O'Neill Cabin (was within shouting distance of this marker but has been confirmed missing); Lookout Studio (was within shouting distance of this marker but has been replaced with another marker now near it); a different marker also named Bright Angel Lodge (was about 300 feet away, measured in a direct line but has been confirmed missing).

Also see . . . Buckey O'Neill Cabin. National Park Service, U.S. Department of the Interior

Buckey O'Neill died in Cuba in 1898 during the Battle of San Juan Hill, fighting with Theodore Roosevelt's Rough Riders. After his death, the cabin was bought by entrepreneur James Thurber, who owned and operated the nearby Bright
Photographed by James Hulse, June 21, 2024

3. The view of the Grand Canyon
Angel Hotel. Thurber incorporated the cabin as part of his hotel, connecting the two structures first with a large circus tent and later with an actual wooden frame building. The hotel, including Buckey's cabin, was sold to Martin Buggeln in 1901, and was later acquired by the Santa Fe Railroad after the completion of the El Tovar Hotel in 1905. The railroad and Fred Harvey Company tore down the Bright Angel Hotel in 1934-1935 to replace it with the Bright Angel Lodge, which still stands today. The architect of the Bright Angel Lodge and its associated cabins, Mary Elizabeth Jane Colter, decided to renovate Buckey O'Neill's cabin as a guest lodge. It remains operating as one of Bright Angel Lodge's active guest cabins to this day.

(Submitted on July 7, 2024, by James Hulse of Medina, Texas.)

Credits. This page was last revised on July 7, 2024. It was originally submitted on July 6, 2024, by James Hulse of Medina, Texas. This page has been viewed 383 times since then and 38 times this year. Photos: 1, 2, 3. submitted on July 7, 2024, by James Hulse of Medina, Texas.