So this is quite the coincidence. I had mentioned that I would love to read @Bmpdvm’s book, Navaho Trading Days. Then just this morning I picked up the Sept issue of AZ Highways (I’m a bit behind in my reading of them), and look what article is in it…
The article is about the author Elizabeth Compton Hegeman, and focuses on her writing of the book Navaho Trading Days; this was in the Arizona Highways annual photography issue.
I also hadn’t put this book, one of my most used, in the thread, because I have mentioned it many times before. But because it has an entry on Shonto Trading Post, which was mentioned in @Bmpdvm’s book, I will add it. Plus a picture and the entry from the guidebook on the trading post.
OMG @Ziacat!!! Do we both believe in coincidences😆.
Elizabeth Hegemann’s Trader husband (Tom - I believe they divorced) was a friend of a close friend of mine who was a great influence on my NA pottery and jewelry collecting! He gifted the book to me. I’ve been meaning to re-read it, now I definitely will! Her association with the Grand Canyon and Shonto T.P. really spiked my interest. I will definitely try to find this article (Sept. 2024?)
Thanks @Ziacat!
Yes, the September 2024 issue. That’s pretty cool the connection you have with her. Back in 2014 we were driving from Page to Kayenta, and I saw the turnoff to Shonto. If we’d had time we would have stopped, but we were on a tight schedule.
Thanks so much @Ziacat! Here’s another coincidence. We’re in Monument Valley today and as we were coming in from Canyon de Chelly yesterday, we discussed if we should head up to Shonto since we were close. We didn’t, I’d heard it was closed(?) We were there many years ago and walked the trail to the Betatakin ruins overlook. But the actual trading post was minimal; not what I expected…mostly items for locals. I’d still love to get down to Keet Seel and Betatakin, but doubt that it will happen. I love the history of these trading posts, wish more of them were still open.
Anyway, tomorrow we’ll stop by Twin Rocks in Bluff…I know that one is open.
Yes, and I’m not even sure if it was open when I was there in 2014. My book is from like 1995, but I still would have enjoyed seeing the post for history’s sake.
I remember Twin Rocks (it’s also featured in my guidebook); my husband really liked the Navajo baskets they had for sale. We didn’t purchase anything, unless you count the yummy cinnamon ice cream I had in their little restaurant We stayed in Bluff several nights on that trip. And you sound like you’re having a fabulous trip!!
Oh my gosh, I also want to hike down to Betatakin ruins. I’ve been at the overlook several times, and last time we were out there we had scheduled a hike, but I planned too much, and we had to cancel. I first was at Navajo National Monument when I was 4 on a 3 week western tour that my family took. We drove west in a station wagon with 3 adults, 2 teenagers, a German Shepherd, and me. Those were the days…
We stayed in Bluff several nights on that trip. And you sound like you’re having a fabulous trip!!