Find cultural ties to Ancestral Puebloan people known for their intricate rock carvings.
Centuries ago, ancestors of Zuni, Hopi, Navajo and Apache tribes traded with each other in the central and northern parts of what became Arizona. Modern Zuni people share many farming and artistic traditions with the Hopi and Navajo nations, but geographic isolation kept other Zuni cultural traditions intact. Most Zuni attractions today are located just across the border in New Mexico, but much of the Zuni origin story can be traced to ancestral communities in the Four Corners region of Arizona.
Visit Ancestral Pueblos
Ancient Zuni sites are scattered throughout Central and Northern Arizona. One of the largest archaeological sites with ties to Zuni culture is found in Springerville, where guided tours of Casa Malpais originate from the Springerville Heritage Center. At the Apache County Historical Society Museum in St. Johns, visitors find artifacts tied to the many cultures that influenced the area, from the ancestors of Zuni, Hopi and Navajo communities to early explorers and settlers who pioneered the region. Discover additional ties to Zuni culture at Homolovi State Park near Winslow, Kinishba Ruins near Fort Apache and Wupatki National Monument near Flagstaff.
Buy Authentic Arts & Crafts
Zuni artisans are most associated with their small stone carvings of animal figures, called fetishes. The ancient artform is practiced today and many consider these fetishes as collectible as Hopi kachinas and Navajo rugs. Visitors can find traditional Zuni fetishes at Native American museum gift shops throughout the state and at trading posts across the Four Corners region. Hubbell Trading Post in Ganado is the oldest continuously operating trading post in the Southwest. Find Zuni fetishes alongside a remarkable collection of artworks representing Arizona’s diverse tribal communities.
