This historic museum shelter is part of the legacy of the Civilian Conservation Corps (CCC) at Bryce Canyon. As Bryce Canyon's CCC camp gained experience in rustic construction techniques, more sophisticated projects were attempted. Some woulud see this combination museum-overlook at Rainbow Point, finished in the summer of 1940, as the CCC's outstanding achievement in the park.
After the completion of the museum-overlook at Rainbow Point, no building was erected at Bryce Canyon until the summer of 1947. This was a Standard Oil Service Station sited near the lodge.
The structure was added to the National Register of Historic Places on April 25, 1995.

The Civilian Conservation Corps and Bryce Canyon

Begun in 1933 by President Franklin D. Roosevelt as a task force to work on a wide variety of conservation and public works projects, the CCC's objective was primarily unemployment relief. It provided work for a total of 3 million people--mostly young men during its existence. Crews would create parks, plant forests, and construct roads, trails, shelters, and picnic areas throughout the nation. Bryce Canyon would host camp NP-3, which worked primarily on roads, footpaths, insect control, and landscaping work. Notable projects included the Under-the-Rim Trail from Rainbow Point to Bryce Point, structures at Rainbow Point and the Bristlecone Loop Trail gazebo, and front-country campground development. Camp NP-3 operated from 1934 until the camp was disbanded in 1943. Read More

Safety

Lightning

Please note that this shelter is not a safe place to be during a lightning storm. Summer thunderstorms will produce lightning, which frequently strikes near viewpoints along the rim. If you can hear thunder, return to your car. Read More