Sandstone reflects natural surroundings of monument
Overall, there are three main regions that make up the 1.9 million acres of the monument: the Grand Staircase, the Kaiparowits Plateau and the Canyons of the Escalante. The geologic benches begin at the bottom of the Grand Canyon and work their way up onto the monument site. The staircase, which is made up of steps of gray, white, vermilion and chocolate cliffs, climbs 5,000 feet to the top of Bryce Canyon.
In 1999, the BLM obtained funding to construct four visitor centers -- each with a different theme -- to be part of the Grand Staircase-Escalante National Monument. Their belief was that by placing the visitor centers in the surrounding communities, rather than right in the monument, the economy would grow as a result of the extra tourists in town. The visitor centers are clad in cream-colored hues of Colorado Buff and Pawnee Buff sandstone and deep brilliant red Moenkopi sandstone, recalling the Vermilion cliffs.