Mary Colter: The DK Studio Architect Spotlight

Our Austin Architects Discuss Mary Colter’s Role and Influence in the Field of Architecture

The DK Studio Architect Spotlight is a series featuring our favorite architects throughout history—highlighting their lives, work, notable buildings, and influence in the field. For this entry, we are spotlighting architect Mary Colter, who is famous for being one of the only female architects of her time and defining the vernacular style of the American Southwest. She pioneered a space for women in the architecture field and her legacy inspires our woman-led team of Austin architects. So now, let’s dive into the work of Mary Colter!

The Life of Architect Mary Elizabeth Jane Colter

“Colter was so particular about the colors she used in decorating that she sometimes mixed her own. For the interior of Bright Angel Lodge, she made a special shade of blue, and she was so insistent that the painters mix the shade exactly as she wanted it that they dubbed it ‘Mary Jane Blue.’” — Virginia L. Grattan

April 4, 1869 – January 8, 1958

When Mary Colter began practicing architecture, she was one of only 22 female architects in the entire United States. Her ability to make waves and a name for herself in a male-dominated field earned her a spot among the top barrier-breaking women architects in history. She designed landmark buildings for Grand Canyon National Park and the Fred Harvey Company, defining the landscape and architectural style of the Southwest. As an avid perfectionist, she often controlled the design process from concept to build to the dishes inside (designing her own patterns if needed).

Colter was born in Pittsburgh in 1869, and her family eventually settled in St. Paul, Minnesota. When she lived there, St. Paul was the home to a large community of Sioux Indians. She became fascinated with Native American culture and design, constantly adding Sioux artwork to her collection. When a smallpox epidemic hit St. Paul, the community turned on the Sioux, and Colter’s mother attempted to burn her art collection. Colter hid her pieces and they would go on to influence her architectural designs years later.

Colter attended the California School of Design and studied art history and interior design until 1891. In 1901, Colter’s friend Minnie Harvey Huckel helped her secure a job with her dad’s company decorating the Alvarado Hotel along the Santa Fe Railroad in Albuquerque, New Mexico. By 1910, Colter became a full-time employee of the Fred Harvey Company and was promoted from an interior design role to lead architect. She worked for the Fred Harvey Company for almost four decades, completing over 20 projects along the Santa Fe Railroad, including hotels, landmark buildings, and other public spaces. Her designs were a mix of Spanish Colonial, Mission, and Native American motifs that would define the Southwestern aesthetic.

Characteristics of Mary Colter’s Architecture

Contained Perfectionist-level Attention to Detail

On the job, Colter was often referred to as a “chain-smoking perfectionist,” making sure every detail was up to her standards. She created backstories for her projects and ensured every detail fit the narrative she crafted for the space. In addition, she’d often mix her own paint colors and design her own patterns for interior finishes.

Created Unique User Experiences

Fantasy and user experience guided Colter’s designs. As an architect for the Fred Harvey Company, the goals of her projects were to bring attention to and commercialize the Southwest—drawing more business to the Santa Fe Railroad and tourism industry. Colter created playfully dramatic designs and floor plans that guided visitors through the experience with ease. Her backstories for the designs also maximized the experience. For example, she imagined the La Posada Hotel as the estate of a Spanish landowner, ever-expanding over generations of family life. The result is a warm, organic, and enchanting commercial hotel.

Designed All Aspects of a Property

Colter’s involvement in design went well beyond drafting a floor plan. She dove into her projects and liked to compose all aspects of a property. She planned exterior elevations, made interior selections, and even went as far as designing her own dishware.

Drew Inspiration from Native American Motifs

From childhood, Colter loved Native American art and design. So, she incorporated many Native Motifs into her design plans, blending them with Spanish Colonial and Mission design. Today, Native American motifs continue to influence the Southwestern style.

Defined the Southwestern Design Style

Colter’s work defines the Southwestern design style as we know it today, combining Spanish Colonial, Mission Revival, and Native American design elements. Iconic features like Pueblo-style plaster walls, exposed wood and stone, and bright accents of turquoise were popularized through Colter’s work along the Santa Fe Railroad.

Famous Buildings Designed by Mary Colter

Grand Canyon National Park Buildings

Colter is well known for her landmark designs throughout Grand Canyon National Park. Her notable buildings include Hopi House, Hermit’s Rest, Lookout Studio, Desert View Watchtower, Bright Angel Lodge, and Phantom Ranch. Designing these buildings in a vernacular style, she utilized stone, timber, and local resources. Of course, she also added a dash of playful whimsey to the designs.

The Fred Harvey Railway Buildings

The Fred Harvey Company’s goal was to turn the Southwest into a bustling tourist destination and bring attention to the new Santa Fe Railroad. To do this, Fred Harvey created a plan to dot the railway with captivating hotels, restaurants, and attractions, which Colter had the vision to design. Colter designed over 20 buildings along the railway, with her Grand Canyon landmarks being the final stop at the end. Notable works on the railroad include the La Fonda Hotel, El Navajo Hotel, and Harvey House Restaurant. These designs combined unique storytelling, handcrafted Native American details, and stunning Southwestern style. Colter also designed the Mimbreño china for the railway dining cars in 1936, which was in production until 1970.

La Posada Hotel

While Colter designed dozens of famous landmarks that defined the landscape of the Southwest, she considered her masterpiece to be the La Posada Hotel she completed in 1930 along Route 66 in Winslow, Arizona. Her backstory for the property centered on a Spanish family’s patriarch, and the character led the design scheme. Colter designed the entire Spanish Colonial-style hotel including the buildings, garden, furniture, china, and even the maids’ uniforms. It was dubbed the “last great railroad hotel built in America.” Unfortunately, the hotel closed in 1957 and fell into disrepair, leading the National Trust for Historic Preservation to place it on its “Most Endangered” list. In 1996, Allen Affeldt purchased and restored the hotel, reopening it for business and securing a spot on the National Register.

Mary Colter’s Influence and Role in Architecture

After working for the Fred Harvey Company for 38 years, Colter retired and moved to Santa Fe, New Mexico, in 1948. She donated her expansive and beloved collection of Native American art to Mesa Verde National Park, and many of her designs are protected as National historic landmarks. In the course of her career, she was able to forge a space for herself in a male-dominated industry, define the Southwestern design style, and build iconic structures still revered today. A pioneer in her own right, Colter paved the way and opened opportunities for women in architecture, and she continues to inspire.