For Kids

Ranger Chris with Junior Rangers.

HUTR Photo.

Junior Ranger Program

Become a Junior Ranger when you visit Hubbell Trading Post NHS! Learn about the history and significance of this park as you complete the booklet then earn your official Junior Ranger badge. The free Junior Ranger booklet is available at the Visitor Center.

Join the Park Rangers for a week long Junior Ranger camp in the summer. Learn more about the park and create some art all while having some fun. Look out for the announcement for the camp.

 

Where did my friends go?

Where Are The Sheep?

Take your family out to the back of the trading post to see the flock of Churro sheep. John Lorenzo Hubbell established the Trading Post in Ganado in 1878 based largely on the economy of sheep. The Navajo traded their blankets, wool, sheep, and pelts for coffee, flour, sugar, canned goods, hardware, tools, and cloth.

The trading post was also a meeting place providing news, entertainment, education,
medical care, and jobs. Mr. Hubbell encouraged weavers to create high quality rugs and tapestries that became famous world-wide. The Ganado Red is a primarily red, geometrical rug design that was popularized by J. L. Hubbell. He felt his job was “to find a market for their products and vigilantly watch that they keep improving in the production of same, and advise them which commands the best price.” While his goal was to make money, he believed that if he prospered, the Navajo would, too.

The Hubbells were very active in the sheep and goat trade. In 1883, more than 1.3 million
pounds of Navajo wool were purchased by traders, plus 300,000 sheep pelts, and 100,000 goat hides.