Hubbell Trading Post National Historic Site
Hubbell Trading Post
National Historic Site. This trading post, farm, home and ranch was
started in 1876 by John Lorenzo Hubbell. It has been in constant operation
since. Hubbell was born in 1853 at Pajarito, in what was then New
Mexico Territory - the son of a Connecticut Yankee who had gone to New
Mexico as a soldier and married into a family of Spanish descent. In 1879,
Hubbell married Lina Rubi and they had four children. Navajo people gathered
at the trading post and Hubbell served not only as a merchant, but as their
liaison to the world beyond the reservation. In 1886, a smallpox epidemic
swept the reservation, Hubbell opened his home as a hospital and worked
night and day caring for the sick. Besides the trading post, which is in
three separate rooms, the property includes Hubbell's home, barn, chicken
coop, stable, bunkhouse, corrals, a bread oven and a guest hogan. (A hogan
is a small 6-sided-cicular Navajo home.)
The visitor center has a nice selection of books
and postcards. Often Navajo women demonstrating weaving baskets on the floor
of the visitor center. The women
did not speak English - only Navajo. They are a bit elderly, neatly attired
and were selling their wares. There is a sign stating to please not take
their photos, unless you ask first and pay a small fee.
Hubbell Trading Post
National Historic Site is located one mile west of Hwy. 191 in Ganado,
on U.S. Highway 264. Visitors traveling on I-40 can take U.S. Highway
191 North to Ganado. If you are traveling from Gallup, New Mexico, you
may take U.S. Highway 491 North to U.S. Highway 264 west toward Ganado,
via Window Rock, Arizona.
RV Parking. Check operating hours before visiting - the Navajo Nation is
not always on the same time zone as Arizona.
TO SEE ADDITIONAL PHOTOS & LEARN MORE:
Read our postcard from the
Hubbell Trading Post