Navajo Trading Post Coming to Santa Monica Mountains September 8

News Release Date: August 30, 2012

Contact: Kate Kuykendall, 805-370-2301

Contact: Scott Aldridge, 520-429-3070

CALABASAS, Calif. - Western National Parks Association (WNPA), a nonprofit education partner of Santa Monica Mountains National Recreation Area (SMMNRA), will host a Navajo trading post at King Gillette Ranch on September 8. The Hubbell Trading Post National Historic Site Navajo Rug & Jewelry Show and Sale will take place from 9:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m. at the SMMNRA visitor center. 

Hubbell's, as it is affectionately called by its followers, brings its collection of striking and symbolic Navajo rugs and jewelry for the first-ever show in the Santa Monica Mountains. The event is free and open to the public. 

With special rug talks at 10:00 a.m. and 2:00 p.m., Hubbell's traders Steve Pickle and Edison Eskeets will describe the history, symbolism, artistry and production of the rugs and how to choose and care for them. Like the weavers themselves, no two rugs are alike, but each evokes a sense of place and incorporates traditional designs and colors. 

Throughout the day, master weaver Brenda Spencer will demonstrate traditional weaving techniques. It takes a weaver 400 hours to produce a medium-sized rug from start to finish.  

Proceeds from the event benefit WNPA educational initiatives throughout its 66 affiliated national parks sites. More information can be found at www.wnpa.org or by calling 805-370-2301. 

DIRECTIONS: The visitor center is located near the intersection of Mulholland Highway and Las Virgenes/Malibu Canyon Road at 26876 Mulholland Highway, Calabasas, CA, 91302. 

About Hubbell Trading Post National Historic Site:
Located in Ganado, Arizona, Hubbell Trading Post was established in 1878 by famed trader John Lorenzo Hubbell who established the post as a premier source for Navajo rugs and jewelry. Hubbell's is the oldest continuously operated trading post on the Navajo Nation, offering visitors an authentic trading experience and a historic glimpse into the famed Hubbell family trading empire. The trading post has been operated since 1967 by Western National Parks Association for the National Parks Service. 

About Western National Parks Association:
Western National Parks Association (WNPA), a nonprofit 501(c)(3) education partner of the National Park Service since 1938, is affiliated with 66 national parks in 12 states. The primary and most visible expression of WNPA's mission is our operation of national park stores in park visitor centers. Each store is unique, offering products that provide visitors tangible and enduring connections to a park's individual themes like the majestic scenery, biodiversity, and fascinating natural or cultural history. Proceeds from sales and membership support additional education, outreach and research initiatives that enhance public understanding and appreciation of national parks. For more information, visit www.wnpa.org.

About Santa Monica Mountains National Recreation Area:
Santa Monica Mountains National Recreation Area (SMMNRA) is the largest urban national park in the country, encompassing more than 150,000 acres of mountains and coastline in Ventura and Los Angeles counties. A unit of the National Park Service, it comprises a seamless network of local, state, and federal parks interwoven with private lands and communities. As one of only five Mediterranean ecosystems in the world, SMMNRA preserves the rich biological diversity of more than 450 animal species and 26 distinct plant communities. For more information, visit www.nps.gov/samo.

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