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Visit Historic San Ildefonso Pueblo
and Trading Post
Photo courtesy New Mexico Tourism
Department
The San Ildefonso Pueblo
Enterprise Corporation has announced the
re-establishment of the historic Trading Post at San
Ildefonso Pueblo, naming it the Cottonwood Trading Post.
The Cottonwood Trading
Post features the work of nearly 60 New Mexico pueblo
artists, including 33 from San Ildefonso, who continue
to follow the traditional art of pottery making for
which San Ildefonso has a well-deserved international
reputation.
Photo courtesy New Mexico Tourism
Department
San Ildefonso is one of
the best known New Mexico Pueblos because of the famous
black-on-black pottery which originated there and which
was revived in the 1920s. At that time San Ildefonso,
like many other Pueblos, was suffering a severe economic
depression. Long standing internal conflicts,
encroachment upon tribal lands by squatters and illegal
cutting of timber all contributed to the low subsistence
level to which the Pueblo had fallen. When American
Indian crafts began to be popular with collectors, it
was fortunate for the San Ildefonso people, because
although the Pueblo population was small, there were a
number of skilled artisans, makers of pottery and
painters, who set to work to improve the economic
condition of the Pueblo. Before long, the outstanding
quality of San Ildefonso pottery became known. It was
then that the famous black pots were revived, primarily
because of Maria Martinez.
Today, they command the
respect of world-wide collectors of fine art. Other
artists, potters and watercolor painters came to the
attention of the public and although the Pueblo is one
of the smallest in population, it is among the best
known, averaging more than 20,000 visitors each year.
Photo courtesy New Mexico Tourism
Department
Cottonwood Trading Post
has long been a part of San Ildefonso Pueblo's history
throughout the years. Although ownership has changed
over the years – now owned by the San Ildefonso Pueblo
Enterprise Corporation _ the past is ever-present in the
memories of its artists and visitors. The trading post
has been remodeled and updated with the times, but
original beams of the Mr. Crow-owned grocery store and
trading post are still in place.
The Cottonwood Trading
Post buys, sells, and trades authentic Native American
pottery, paintings, jewelry, dance goods and more.
San Ildefonso is located on State Road 502, 15 miles
north of Santa Fe on US 84/285. The Cottonwood Trading
Post is open daily, 10 a.m- 5 p.m. Call 505-455-1453 or
505-455-2273.
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