Traders to the Navajos: The Wetherills of Kayenta and Their Artist Friends with Harvey Leake

Early in the twentieth century John and Louisa Wetherill made their home among the Navajos and Paiutes of the Monument Valley region of the Utah/Arizona borderlands. There they operated a pioneer trading post, hosted guests in their gracious lodge, and provided guided horseback outings into the wild country beyond. They introduced their visitors to the wonders of the mesas, canyons, and monuments of the surrounding landscape and the lifeways of the ancient cliff-dwellers and traditional Navajos. Sojourns at this otherworldly outpost provided inspiration to those who ventured there, including a host of artists who came into the country down through the years. Harvey Leake is an authority on the history of his pioneering great-grandparents, John and Louisa Wetherill and shares his research findings in talks, books, and essays. He is a Prescott native and a retired electrical engineer.