Near Nageezi in San Juan County, New Mexico — The American Mountains (Southwest)
Wetherill Cemetery
Chaco Culture National Historical Park
| | National Park Service, U.S.Department of the Interior | |
Photographed by James Hulse, March 26, 2025
1. Wetherill Cemetery Marker
Richard Wetherill, a controversial figure in the history of the Southwest, is buried in this historic cemetery. He spent much of his life exploring the region, excavating sites, and selling artifacts.
Wetherill came to Pueblo Bonito from the Mesa Verde area in 1896. Working with the American Museum of Natural History, Wetherill's excavating practices, equal to many professionals of his day, were soon criticized. Complaints from archeologists and universities halted his activities at Chaco, and led to the creation of our nation's first law protecting antiquities.
Wetherill turned to ranching and operating a trading post at Pueblo Bonito. His relationship with the Navajo families of Chaco Canyon was mixed - some families were loyal, and others accused him of mistreatment. On June 22, 1910, Wetherill was killed by Chis-Chilling Begay, after a heated dispute between his hired hand and Navajo neighbors.
Others buried in this historic cemetery are Marietta Wetherill, Grace Etcitty, C. A. and Ramona Griffin, several local Navajo people (unidentified, as was the custom), and others. A 600-foot, round-trip trail leads
this page online
Captions
(Photo #1) Wetherill headstone
(Photo #2) Wetherill Trading Post at Pueblo Bonito, 1897
(Photo #3) Richard Wetherill, 1904
Erected by National Park Service, U.S. Department of the Interior.
Topics. This historical marker is listed in these topic lists: Anthropology & Archaeology • Cemeteries & Burial Sites • Indigenous Peoples and Communities • Industry & Commerce. A significant historical date for this entry is June 22, 1910.
Location. 36° 3.757′ N, 107° 57.919′ W. Marker is near Nageezi, New Mexico, in San Juan County. It is at the intersection of Navajo Service Route 14 and Navajo Side Loop Road on Navajo Service Route 14. The marker is located at the trailhead to the cemetery near the parking lot. Touch for map. Marker is in this post office area: Nageezi NM 87037, United States of America. Touch for directions.
Regionally, this marker is in New Mexico’s Navajo Nation and in the San Juan Basin. It is also in the American Southwest, in the Mountain West, in Colorado Plateau, and at the Four Corners. Globally, it is in North America, the Rocky Mountains, the Western Hemisphere,
Photographed by James Hulse, March 26, 2025
2. The Wetherill Cemetery and Marker
The cemetery is located along the edge of the canyon wall.
Other nearby markers. At least 8 other markers are within 4 miles of this marker, measured as the crow flies: Chaco Culture (approx. Ό mile away); Kin Kletso (approx. 0.3 miles away); Pueblo Alto Trail (approx. 0.3 miles away); Pueblo Bonito (approx. 0.4 miles away); Chetro Ketl (approx. 0.4 miles away); Casa Rinconada Community (approx. 0.6 miles away); Chacoan Stairway (approx. 0.8 miles away); Chaco: A World Heritage Site (approx. 3.8 miles away). Touch for a list and map of all markers in Nageezi.
Also see . . . Richard Wetherill. Wikipedia
Richard Wetherill (18581910), a member of a Colorado ranching family, was an amateur archaeologist who discovered, researched and excavated sites associated with the Ancient Pueblo People. He is credited with the rediscovery of Cliff Palace in Mesa Verde in Colorado and was responsible for initially selecting the term Anasazi, Navajo for ancient enemies, as the name for these ancient people. He also excavated Kiet Seel ruin, now in Navajo National Monument in northeastern Arizona,(Submitted on April 15, 2025, by James Hulse of Medina, Texas.)and Pueblo Bonito in Chaco Canyon, New Mexico.Photographed by James Hulse, March 26, 20253. The view of the Wetherill Cemetery along the trail
Credits. This page was last revised on July 14, 2025. It was originally submitted on April 15, 2025, by James Hulse of Medina, Texas. This page has been viewed 531 times since then and 96 times this year. Photos: 1, 2, 3. submitted on April 17, 2025, by James Hulse of Medina, Texas.
