John Lorenzo Hubbell first traded in the Ganado area in the early 1870s. He began construction on the present trading post in 1883. Early on, the operation was a success with his Navajo neighbors. He promoted excellence in craftsmanship and design and helped weavers understand which designs were popular through use of miniature paintings of rug designs. He encouraged the use of traditional materials and natural dyes. Hubbell also promoted Navajo crafts with a series of mail order catalogs that he sent to Eastern cities. The hall in his home exhibits many paintings, Navajo rugs, and other artifacts in their historic setting. Note the baskets on the ceiling and the E.A. Burbank portraits on the far wall and above the door.