Arizona is home to the oldest continuously inhabited community in the U.S. It is believed to have begun between 900 and 1000 A.D. and is located on Third Mesa on the Hopi Reservation. In the 1800s, droughts in the area drove many other Hopi settlements to consolidate with others for survival. By 1890, it’s believed that as much as one-half of the Hopi population resided in the tiny village of Oraibi (called Orayvi by inhabitants).
The Oraibi village at that time was constructed of mud and stone dwellings, clustered together, even stacked on top of one another. Stairs and, more often, ladders were used to gain access to the upper floors. Not much is known about Oraibi village during the period, but a few photographs exist and they tell a fascinating story about life in this Hopi village between 1871 and 1907. The estimated population in 1890, the time period in which the following photos were taken, was 900 residents. The captions were taken from the source materials, primarily Library of Congress archived images. Take a rare look into the history of this still isolated village on the Hopi Reservation.
Oraibi village, 1899.
Wikipedia/public domain
Terrace scene on the streets of Oraibi, December 1898.
Wikimedia Commons/public domain
“Rain dancers” (invoking rain for the crops) Oraibi village, Arizona. 1907.
Library of Congress/STEREO SUBJ FILE - Indians of North America–S.W.–Hopi [item] [P&P]
Terrace Homes of Hopi Indians. Street scene in Oraibi, Hopi Reservation, Arizona. March 26, 1903.
Library of Congress/STEREO SUBJ FILE - Indians of N.A.–S.W.–Hopi [item] [P&P]
Hopi Indians, Arizona, in snake ceremony, with pueblo and onlookers in background. c. 1904-1905.
Library of Congress/LOT 12315 [P&P;]
Hopi snake priest entering Snake Kiva, Oraibi, Arizona, around 1920.
Wikipedia/DeGolyer Library, Southern Methodist University/
People and horse in front of adobe and rock structure (in Oraibi), c. 1871.
Library of Congress/Beaman, E. O. /STEREO SUBJ FILE - Indians of North America–Southwest–Hopi [P&P;]
A low oblique view from above the Hopi village of Oraibi, showing terraced houses, Arizona, 1898.
Wikimedia Commons/George Wharton James/University of Southern California. Libraries/public domain Today the Oraibi village still contains some of the old stone structures as well as an old mission.
The outskirts of the Oraibi Village, 2010.
Wikimedia Commons/Originally uploaded by Promking (Transferred by JaumeBG) And even though the residents still live an isolated life, there are some newer cinder block homes mixed into the landscape at Oraibi.
Located just off AZ Highway 264, the village has changed over the years, yet many things have remained the same.
Google Maps [satellite] The residents of Oraibi welcome visitors, but ask that you respect their wishes of no photography within the village. You’ll find a few craft stands where residents are selling their handcrafted dolls, baskets and pottery. And don’t forget to sample their traditional piki bread if you go!
Visiting Oraibi offers a rare glimpse into the life and culture of generations of families that have lived here since at least 1000 A.D. It’s astounding the village even accepts visitors. Learn more about visiting Oraibi at this link. Guided tours are also offered. Have you been? We’d love to hear all about your visit, so keep the discussion going!
Wikipedia/public domain
Wikimedia Commons/public domain
Library of Congress/STEREO SUBJ FILE - Indians of North America–S.W.–Hopi [item] [P&P]
Library of Congress/STEREO SUBJ FILE - Indians of N.A.–S.W.–Hopi [item] [P&P]
Library of Congress/LOT 12315 [P&P;]
Wikipedia/DeGolyer Library, Southern Methodist University/
Library of Congress/Beaman, E. O. /STEREO SUBJ FILE - Indians of North America–Southwest–Hopi [P&P;]
Wikimedia Commons/George Wharton James/University of Southern California. Libraries/public domain
Today the Oraibi village still contains some of the old stone structures as well as an old mission.
Wikimedia Commons/Originally uploaded by Promking (Transferred by JaumeBG)
And even though the residents still live an isolated life, there are some newer cinder block homes mixed into the landscape at Oraibi.
Google Maps [satellite]
The residents of Oraibi welcome visitors, but ask that you respect their wishes of no photography within the village. You’ll find a few craft stands where residents are selling their handcrafted dolls, baskets and pottery. And don’t forget to sample their traditional piki bread if you go!
Speaking of history (more recent history) here are seven things we bet you didn’t know about the history of Arizona!
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