A visitor to Grand Canyon National Park in Arizona damaged a Hopi headpiece, park officials said, and they are asking for the public’s help in identifying the individual.
The damage happened inside Desert View Watchtower at the eastern end of the canyon on June 17, officials said in a statement released Wednesday on Facebook.
The incident occurred between 11 a.m. and 4 p.m. on the ground floor of the watchtower, near the fireplace.
The statement said “according to witnesses, a male visitor climbed onto historic handcrafted furniture near the fireplace to take a photo. The furniture tipped beneath him, and the individual reached out to steady himself, striking the Hopi headpiece and causing it to fall. The headpiece broke in two places and was damaged in three others.”
After the fall, park staff helped the visitor with a first aid kit. The visitor and an adult woman believed to be his daughter then left the Watchtower before law enforcement rangers were notified or able to identify them.
The male visitor is described as a Caucasian-American man in his 60s or 70s, about 6 feet tall, with a slender build, white or gray hair, clean shaven, and wearing cargo shorts. The woman with him is described as a Caucasian-American woman in her late 30s to 40s, about 5 feet 5 inches tall, with an average build and dark hair below shoulder length.
The damaged headpiece, created by Hopi artist Fred Kabotie, has been secured by Grand Canyon National Park museum staff.
Anyone who may have witnessed the incident, recognizes the individuals described, or has information that could help identify them is asked to contact Grand Canyon National Park law enforcement at GRCA_Information@nps.gov.
