Ellsworth Kolb moved to the Grand Canyon in 1901, and his brother Emery followed a year later. The brothers bought a photography business in Williams, Arizona and moved it to the Grand Canyon by 1903, operating their new business from a tent near the Bright Angel Lodge. The following year the brothers built Kolb Studio on the edge of the South Rim at the head of the Bright Angel Trail.

The studio served as the Kolb brother’s permanent residence and the headquarters for their business. The Kolb brothers strategically placed the studio at the beginning of the Bright Angel Trail to collect tolls on pack animals, capture photographs of tourists venturing down into the Grand Canyon, and sell photos as souvenirs upon their return. The brothers also travelled around the canyon, taking photographs and filming the region’s natural beauty. However, the brothers soon disagreed on the best way to run the business. Emery reportedly won a coin toss to take over the business in 1913, and Ellsworth moved to Los Angeles.

To accommodate the studio’s increased popularity, it expanded in 1915 and 1926 to include an auditorium, as well as a darkroom and photography laboratory. The auditorium became Kolb Studio’s most prominent feature, showcasing the brother’s famous documentary of their adventure down the Colorado River through the Grand Canyon. The film played every day from 1915 to 1976, and Emery personally introduced the film before every daily showing.

The National Park Service acquired the studio after Emery’s death in 1976, and incorporated the building into its existing infrastructure at the Grand Canyon Village. Kolb Studio became part of the Grand Canyon Village National Historic Landmark District in 1987. The Grand Canyon Association conducted extensive renovations in the 1990s, and ensured that the building remained attached to the side of the canyon. The historic studio offers free tours on a limited schedule and includes rotating exhibits, a bookstore, and an information center managed by the Grand Canyon Association.