Hubbell Trading Post National Historic Site: Cultural Landscape Report, Hubbell Trading Post National Historic Site, National Park Service

Froeschauer-Nelson, Peggy

This cultural landscape report has been prepared to assist in the development of a management program that will serve to enhance and preserve the character-defining elements within this significant cultural landscape resource. The report discusses existing problems and issues with regard to site management and potential development, describes research methodology, presents research findings and analysis of those findings, and provides recommendations for the long term preservation and management of the cultural landscape associated with Hubbell Trading Post National Historic Site. Recommendations include management alternatives, design guidelines and maintenance standards, and treatment recommendations. The report also provides a summary documentation of actual treatment that has been undertaken on site dating from NPS ownership to the present date. The research conducted for this project consisted of three distinct approaches. Each required various research methods and will be discussed below. The three approaches include: a background study/literature search; archival research; and field research. The background study/literature search involved reviewing existing National Park Service documents and research reports for Hubbell Trading Post Historic Site and adjacent areas, as well as conducting a background study of the settlement history of the Four Corners area and Navajo traders. The background study consisted of examining regional and local histories, personal journals and accounts of early expeditions and settlement in the study area. Comparative studies were reviewed for information pertaining to the life and ways of Navajo traders in the Arizona territory. Archival facilities in Washington, D.C., Tucson, Phoenix, Window Rock, Tuba City, Ganado, Arizona, Denver, Colorado, and Santa Fe, Farmington, and Albuquerque, New Mexico were utilized and provided invaluable data in the form of historic maps, photographic collections, land records, aerial photographs, topographic maps, and postal records. Some information was obtained through telephone correspondence, however when practical the original primary source data was examined first hand by the author with hopes of finding some specific references to the historic landscape. Field research was initiated following some preliminary archival data collection and the preparation of a site base map. The draft cultural inventory (CLI) field survey form was utilized to maintain consistency in the recording of field data. Field research entailed the use of historic maps, aerial photographs, and period photographs to locate biotic and abiotic landscape features including field boundaries, formally planted vegetation, semi-natural vegetation, building sites, circulation systems and existing plant communities. A pedestrian level reconnaissance survey was conducted over the entire 160 acre property. The existing condition of all structural landscape features located during field reconnaissance was noted and documented using a 35mm camera with black and white print and color slide film and mapped to scale using aerial photo overlays and existing topographic maps for the site.

Hubbell Trading Post National Historic Site: Cultural Landscape Report, Hubbell Trading Post National Historic Site, National Park Service

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