ALL HIKERS
HUBBELL TRADING POST |
 The Hubbell Trading
Post National Historic Site is located in Ganado, Arizona, about one hour
northwest of Gallup, New Mexico. Admission is free to the trading
post. Tours of the Hubbell home are $2 for adults, under 16 years old are free. It is well worth the time to visit
this famous trading establishment started by John Lorenzo Hubbell around
1878. Literate in both Spanish and English, Hubbell obtained early
experience in business affairs working for the Albuquerque Post Office and
for his father, whose military connections helped him secure a contract to
deliver hay to Fort Wingate in Navajo country. He hired local
Navajos to cut the native grass and soon began learning their language.
He also gained experience clerking for pioneer traders at Fort Wingate and
at Kanab, Utah. In 1874 Hubbell was assigned to accompany Navajo
leader Ganado Mucho on a mission to Utah to investigate the killing of
three young Navajos. Hubbell soon began to be active in politics and
was elected sheriff and later to the territorial House of Representatives
for many terms. Hubbell formed a partnership with C. N. Cotton and
together they expanded the trading post operations by buying huge
quantities of wool from the Navajos. This allowed for extensive
trading and sales of Navajo rugs. Eventually Hubbell was granted
title to the 160 acres around the trading post although this area was
within the Navajo Reservation. Hubbell became known among the
Navajos for his hospitality and generosity as well as for providing
employment to many Navajos. Hubbell's health deteriorated and when
he died in 1930, his children took over the business and continued its
operations until 1967 when all the holdings were sold to the National Park
Service. The Hubble Trading Post remains the oldest, continuously
operating trading post on the Navajo Nation. For more information, visit their website at:
http://www.nps.gov/hutr/index.htm |