Hubbell Trading Post National Historic Site

Just about everybody's seen at least one Westerns where the 'Tradin' Post' is the center of the economic life in the story line movie.  It's one of the cliches, right? 

But the fact is it's not  cliche.  One such trading post still exists and operates much as it did when it was first built.  It's the Hubbell Trading Post in Ganado, Arizona.  Established by John Lorenzo Hubbell in the 1880's, the post still serves as an economic force on the Navajo Reservation.  Weavers, silver smiths and other craftspeople can bring their projects to sell or trade for supplies.  It's been designated a National Historic Site, and continues to be an important repository of artifacts and lore about how things really were during the westward expansion of the U.S.

Desert Craftsmen was commissioned to replicate several original pieces of furniture used in the day-to-day activities if the post, allowing the originals to be conserved for the study of future generations.

In any business in the late 1800's the nerve center is likely to have been a massive roll top desk.  Our recreation is now in use, and absorbing the wear and tear of the brisk activity of a working trading post.

Trading is the essence of any trading post.  The Trader's Desk, here showing the replica, is where the Trader evaluates weaving, basket work and jewelry just as Mr. Hubbell must have come to terms with his trading partners more than a century ago, and as the Trader does today.

Display and storage of what's for sale or trade is an important part of the post's accouterments, or what's the point, right?  Some tables and cabinets were purchased and shipped in from the east, some were made on site.   Each is a mini-time capsule of how things were done at the time.  Desert Craftsmen's meticulous replicas attempt to capture the techniques and materials used back then so trading post visitors can see, but the originals can be safely preserved.

Trading has always been a dynamic activity, with things coming in and going out all the time, and trades being made with various individuals, too.  It was necessary to keep track of all these transactions, so the trading post acquired a file like the ones used by railroads at the time to keep track of what's on which train, where it came from, and where it was going.  The post's railroad file is shown side by side with our copy.  (Ours is on a dolly so it could be moved easily during the final aging and distressing process, so it appears taller than the original in the photos above.

Hubbell Trading Post is a bit of living history, and well worth a visit.  The link below will give you more information.

http://www.nps.gov/hutr