Painted Desert Inn Museum:
A National Historic Landmark

Built in 1924 by Herbert Lore, the Stone Tree House resembled a beach house rather than the pueblo-style building of today.  Although Lore had a vision of travelers seeking out the wonders of the high desert, he was not a geologist.  He built directly on top of a seam of bentonite clay.  This material can swell up to eight times its original size, shrinking back as it dries.  This causes the building to rise and fall, cracking the walls and some of the floors.