National Register of Historic Places

Oljato Trading Post

Blanding, San Juan County, Utah
Listed
June 19, 1980
Type
Building
Period
Industrial
Ref No.
80003939

About this property

Oljato Trading Post was a trading post located on the western edge of Oljato–Monument Valley, Utah. The site was added to the National Register of Historic Places on June 20, 1980. In 2021, it was named by the National Trust for Historic Preservation in its list of America's Most Endangered Places. The name of Oljato Trading Post comes from the Navajo ‘Oljéé’to’ (“Moonwater”). The trading post was founded in 1906 by John and Louisa Wade Wetherill. Oljato was one of the most isolated places in the United States and the local Navajos had been little influenced by Hispanic and Anglo culture. The Wetherills brought in supplies by horse-drawn wagon from Gallup, New Mexico, a 21-day round trip. The Wetherills moved to Kayenta in 1910. The present day structure was constructed in 1921 by Joseph Hefferman, a licensed Anglo trader, who then sold it in 1936. In the following years the trading post had a series of owners. In 2020 it was stabilized by the State Historic Preservation Office, the Navajo Nation Historic Preservation Department and organizations. The original structure of the traditional Navajo trading post included designated areas for trading wool and lambs, loading areas for wagons, storage, and an elevated area for overseeing the trading area. The trading post was a venue for Navajo producers to trade and sell their products. It also served as a social hub in the community.

Location

Blanding, San Juan County, Utah
37.03640, -110.31818

Categories

COMMERCEEXPLORATION/SETTLEMENTCOMMUNICATIONS
National Register nomination ›
Sources

Property data from the National Register of Historic Places, National Park Service (public domain).

Description adapted from Wikipedia under the Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike 4.0 International License.

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Native Heritage
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Settlement
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Nearby Historic Sites

Goulding's Trading Post
Industrial
6.7 mi
Hole-in-the-Rock Trail
Industrial
33.9 mi

Questions about this property

When was Oljato Trading Post listed on the National Register?

Oljato Trading Post was listed on the National Register of Historic Places on June 19, 1980.

What type of historic resource is Oljato Trading Post?

Oljato Trading Post is classified as a building in the National Register of Historic Places.

What is the period of significance for Oljato Trading Post?

The period of significance for Oljato Trading Post is recorded as the industrial era.

Can I research the history near Oljato Trading Post?

Yes. Aubrey Research reports search National Register listings, battlefield records, land patents, and other primary historical sources within any radius of a US address. A report for an address near Oljato Trading Post will include this listing and all other historical records in the area.

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