This post updated to show photos of the inside of the trading post taken on May 23, 2017
On my way home from south central Utah early this month, after a
trip on the White Rim Trail with friends, I finally figured out how to find the two-lane highway between Montezuma Creek, UT and Red Mesa, AZ, as it is not marked. This pleased me as it is a shorter and more scenic alternative to the route I previously drove. Plus gasoline has been less expensive in AZ than in UT the last several trips.
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| View from the trading post south across the highway. |
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| Trading post entrance as seen from the gas pumps. If you look carefully, above the pickup truck and below the roof line of the building, you will see the border decoration of the largest of the murals. |
I stopped at the Teec Nos Pos Trading Post for some of that gas. One walks though a walled patio area to reach the restrooms. After that much needed pit stop I was able to look around on my way back through the patio area. I noticed these rather striking murals on the outside wall of the trading post. One was signed by Spencer "Da Painter". I had my phone in my pocket and took photos of each of the panels. I've included those photos, below. As I recall, the square murals are about 5 feet on a side; the large triptych is about 15 feet wide.
Click on a photo to see larger versions. Highly recommended.
I wasn't feeling all that well, so didn't explore the trading post. I intend to do that on another trip especially as their
website makes me feel it would be worth a stop. The name Teec Nos Pos (pronounced Tease-Nhas-phas according to the aforementioned website) will be familiar to fans of Tony Hillerman's novels that take place on the Navajo Nation. The trading post was established in 1905 and Navajo name translates as "cottonwoods in a circle".
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| This triptych is much wider than the others. It is closest to the trading post front door. |
I passed again through Teec Nos Pos a month after the above photos were taken. I took this opportunity to photograph (with permission) interior areas of the trading post. I didn't photograph the front section inside the trading post, both because it was mostly filled with standard "convenience store" junk, but also there were many Navajo customers and I didn't wish to imposed upon their privacy.
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| This is the main crafts room with beautiful Navajo rugs and baskets. |
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| One of the jewelry cases in the rug room. |
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| The other end of the jewelry case. |
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| Cases, baskets, rugs. |
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| I loved this beautiful rug. Maybe I should have purchased it, but the $1350 price tag discouraged me. Mistake? |
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| More baskets. |
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| Squash Blossom necklaces. |
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| Bracelets. |
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| Yarn and craft supplies. |
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| Mutton, pork, beef, and Ach'ii' |
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| Feed and kitchen supplies. |
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| Flour, baby supplies, and groceries. |
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| Front view of the trading post as I say good-bye for now. |
Thanks for reading.
