Hubbell Trading Post vega & petrified woodMay 18, 2007. We are camped in the free Cottonwood Campground at Canyon de Chelly National Monument, in northeastern Arizona. There are no utilities other than a central dump station and a central place to get water. Cottonwood Campground probably has around 100 sites but not many for large motorhomes. There were probably 20 that we could fit our 35' motorhome in. There might be 5 sites that would hold a 40' motorhome. It is a first come first serve campground. You can't make reservations. The campground fills up in the late afternoon up until around 8 PM then empties out the next morning. The place has a lot of turnover. My advice would be to arrive in the early afternoon.
Hubbell Trading Post National Historic Site
After visiting the overlooks on the north rim of Canyon de Chelly we decided to head south to Hubbell Trading Post. The Hubbell Trading Post is a historic place being preserved by the National Park Service. The old trading post is located about 2-miles west of Ganado, AZ 35-miles south of Canyon de Chelly. If you have a mapping program it is located at: N35° 42.600' W109° 35.506'. We had planned to visit Hubbell Trading Post on our way to Canyon de Chelly but it was so late in the day (after 5 PM) that we missed it. That is why we back tracked in our Saturn to visit it today.
Hubbell Trading Post
This is the front door to the old trading post. Oddly enough the trading post is still selling Navajo products like jewelry and woolen rugs. Inside, a Navajo woman was weaving a rug.
Hubbell Trading Post
This is a view of the remainder of the Hubbell Trading Post. The far section is a barn and blacksmith shop.
Petrified wood on display at Hubbell Trading Post
These pieces of petrified wood were on display outside the Hubbell Trading post.
Petrified wood seat Hubbell Trading Post
This piece of petrified wood looked like a perfect seat.
Navajo Hogan at Hubbell Trading Post
This "hogan" was located next to the old Hubbell house. It is one of the finest hogans we have seen.
Door post Hubbell Trading Post
This was on the mantle above the door on that hogan. I still do not know what to make of it, and we did not stick around for the NPS tour.
Hubbell Trading Post
This large piece of rock was sitting in an outside room that Navajos use in the middle of the day. These rooms have roofs but the sides are open to allow a breeze. This outside room had vines growing up the sides providing additional cooling. The large thin slab of sandstone caught my attention.
Huge outdoor oven at Hubbell Trading Post
This huge oven was located behind the Hubbell house. It looks large enough to bake for a crowd.
Large old barn at Hubbell Trading Post
This is the old barn. Note the construction of sandstone walls with Mexican style vigas (log beams for the ceiling).
Mexican Vega style roof on barn
This is a side view of the barn better showing how the ceiling/roof was constructed. Hay is currently being stored in the loft area.
Vega style ceiling construction
This is looking up in the barn at the viga construction of the ceiling. Hay is stored in the loft.
Vega barn ceiling Hubbell Trading Post
Yet another view of the vega style barn ceiling.
Hay storage in barn at Hubbell Trading Post National Monument
Here you can see the hay being stored. This has worked well for over 100-years.
Mexican Vega style roof construction Hubbell Trading Post
Close-up of vigas with the much smaller limbs that make up the ceiling.
Click here for more Arizona Travel Logs & Travel JournalsUntil next time remember how good life is. Mike & Joyce Hendrix
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