The Vanishing Trading Posts

“The Vanishing Trading Posts” presents a snapshot of life in the southwest that has disappeared. In a little over one hundred years, trading posts in the Four Corners were founded, traders and Native Americans flourished, and then the posts faded away. The challenges and unexpected gifts of cross-cultural exchange and stories of trading family dynasties are discussed against a background of social and economic changes on the reservations and in the U.S. that still impact relationships today.

Chris and Sandy are docents at the Museum of Northern Arizona and have been speaking about the land and people of the Colorado Plateau since 2012. In-depth research and related interviews have resulted in presentations to local social and educational groups, museum groups, public venues such as the Riordan Mansion State Park in Flagstaff, and AZ Speaks locations throughout Arizona. Some topics are presented in costumes of the time period, and in every case with a thorough exploration of the events and personalities of the time from multiple points of view.