Quote:The Painted Desert Inn, historically known as the Stone Treehouse, is a Pueblo Revival–style landmark in Petrified Forest National Park.

The Stone Treehouse (1924–1936)

• Creation: Entrepreneur Herbert David Lore built the original structure around 1924 using local petrified wood and clay perched on a mesa overlooking the Painted Desert.
• Foundation Issues: Built on unstable bentonite clay, the building suffered from shifting ground, severe cracks, and structural damage.
• Acquisition: The National Park Service purchased the property in 1936 for $59,400 to integrate it into the national monument.

Civilian Conservation Corps Reconstruction (1937–1940)

• New Deal Architecture: Using designs by National Park Service architect Lyle E. Bennett (and landscape architect Thomas C. Vint), the Civilian Conservation Corps (CCC) took the building apart and reconstructed it.
• Pueblo Revival Style: The redesign transformed it into a masterpiece of Southwest Rustic and Pueblo Revival architecture, featuring flat roofs, protruding vigas, hand-painted skylights, and custom furnishings.
• Reopening: The inn reopened in 1940 as a roadside oasis for travelers along early alignments of Route 66.

Fred Harvey Era and Mary Colter Redesign (1947–1948)

• Fred Harvey Management: The famed Fred Harvey Company, which managed hospitality along the Santa Fe Railroad, took over operations of the inn.
• Colter's Touch: In 1947, legendary architect and interior designer Mary Jane Colter led a major interior remodel. She added large plate-glass windows to capture the badland views and designed a new color palette.
• Hopi Murals: Colter commissioned celebrated Hopi artist Fred Kabotie to paint vibrant murals on the dining room and lunchroom walls depicting traditional Hopi daily life and culture. Overnight lodging ceased around 1947.

Decline, Demolition Threat, and Preservation (1963–Present)

• Closure: Persistent movement in the bentonite clay foundation forced the inn to close to the public in 1963.
• Saved from Demolition: By the mid-1970s, the Park Service scheduled the building for demolition, but public advocacy and the discovery of Fred Kabotie's historic murals saved it.
• Landmark Status: It was listed on the National Register of Historic Places in 1975 and designated a National Historic Landmark on May 28, 1987.
• Modern Use: Following an extensive restoration completed in the 2000s, the inn now operates as a museum featuring preserved historical rooms, Hopi murals, and a seasonal ice cream parlor.