Page Updated: May 22, 2023
Goulding’s Monument Valley
Goulding Memorial Stone - Oljato Monument Valley UT
On occasion we stumble upon cool stuff by accident. This is one of those times. On the hunt for a magnet to signify our visit to Monument Valley, I put my finger on the map (on my phone, because who uses paper maps anymore) on a spot tagged gift shop, and said “Let’s see what they’ve got.”
What we found was a surprise - a little nugget of history.
On the surface, my chosen spot looked like a tourist trap. There’s the gift shop, a hotel and a cafeteria. Cool, maybe they’ll have my magnet. After parking and while making our way to the gift shop, we noticed an oddly placed unassuming wooden sign reading:
Goulding’s
Estb. 1924 by Harry + his wife “Mike” Goulding
Trading Post / Lodge
Goulding’s Museum
We stared at it a second wondering if really was a museum. Then decided to give it a whirl and see what it was.
To our delight, it turns out it really is a museum. Walking through the entrance brings you into the old-school trading post and takes you back in time. Shelves and cabinetry are mock-stocked with items and representations of wares from days gone by. But wait, there’s more.
Sitting behind the counter stood a man who shared a bit of Goulding’s history. It went a little something like this…
Upon visiting southeast Utah in the early 1920s, sheep traders Harry and Leone “Mike” Goulding fell in love with the area, purchased land, pitched some tents, and began successfully trading with the local Navajo while building a permanent trading post.
The arrival of the Great Depression hit the Navajo Nation especially hard. And in 1938, Harry discovered director John Ford was scouting unique areas to film an upcoming western. Armed with an idea, their last $60, and a few black and white photos of Monument Valley, Harry and “Mike” traveled to California to meet Ford - without an appointment.
After two days of waiting and a short scuffle from nearly being thrown out, Harry flashed his black and white photos at the last minute - and history was made.
John Ford had his filming location for his new film “Stagecoach.” Harry Goulding provided a means of income for the Navajo Nation. And Monument Valley became an icon of the American West.
Goulding’s Museum is free to visitors and has several areas beyond the trading post room to explore. There’s the wares room, a space devoted to art and the many films shot in Monument Valley, a room showing a short film about the Navajo, and the upper living quarters of Harry and Mike are on full display.
Outside the museum, there’s a stagecoach sitting proudly as an homage to the past. “John Wayne’s Cabin” sits a stones throw away. And visitors can dine in the cafeteria built to feed past cast and crew of many a film. Frybread with honey, anyone?! And if you need a place to stay, you can book a room in the lodge and wake up to monumental views. Fair warning, peak season is April-October and reservations are your friend.
We’ve learned we’ll never know what we’re going to find on this journey. Goulding’s Monument Valley turned out to be quite the refreshing surprise. All because of a magnet.
scenes from Goulding’s
-b&b
Valley of the Gods Scenic Drive
Stargazing Valley of the Gods
