 |
| Above, the Hubbell Trading Post in Ganado, Arizona. Photo by Armand Vaquer. |
The route I took to Monument Valley from Jamestown, New Mexico had me pass by the Hubbell Trading Post. It is, perhaps, the most famous trading post in the Southwest. It is a historical trading post that dates back to 1878.
I paid a brief visit to Hubbell Trading Post and bought a few things.
From the National Park Service website:
A BRIEF HISTORY OF HUBBELL TRADING POST
John Lorenzo Hubbell purchased the trading post in 1878, ten years after Navajos were allowed to return to their homeland from their terrible exile at Bosque Redondo, Ft. Sumner, New Mexico. During the four years spent at Bosque Redondo, Navajos were introduced to many new items. Traders like Hubbell supplied those items once they returned home.
Hubbell had an enduring influence on Navajo rugweaving and silversmithing, for he consistently demanded and promoted excellence in craftsmanship. He built a trading empire that included stage and freight lines as well as several trading posts. At various times, he and his two sons, together or separately, owned 24 trading posts, a wholesale house in Winslow, and other business and ranch properties. Beyond question, he was the foremost Navajo trader of his time.
Hubbell family members operated the trading post until it was sold to the National Park Service in 1967. The trading post is still active, and operated by the non-profit organization, Western National Parks Association for the National Park Service. They continue the trading traditions the Hubbell family started.
I was planning to visit the trading post two years ago. It is about 70 miles from home. As fate would have it, a few days before I was going to visit it, everything was shut down, including the trading post, due to the pandemic.
It is an interesting place to visit. My favorite part was the rug room.
To read the full National Park Service website on the Hubbell Trading Post, go here.
As the website does indicate, masks are still required. As Navajo Nation requires masks, I had some handy in the RV, so it was no problem for me.
Some photos:
No comments:
Post a Comment