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About Shiprock
Shiprock is a census-designated place located in San Juan County, New Mexico, United States, on the Navajo reservation. It is situated at 36°47'34"North, 108°41'14"West (36.792789, -108.687294). This city has its name after the adjacent Shiprock rock formation. It is claimed that this sacred mountain was formed by a volcanic vent 27 million years ago. Having a population of 8 200, Shiprock is the largest town of the Navajo Nation. The legend says that the peak is the reason why the Navajos came to the southwest and lived on the monolith only to plant the fields and get water. But sometime later the peak was hit by lightning damaging the trail, leaving just a cliff and the people to starve at the edge of it. That is why the Navajos are still scared for they think that place will "wake the ghosts or rob their corpses". This being said the Shiprock mountain remains a sacred place to them.
The city had been established in 1903 by Indian agent William T. Shelton. Visiting Shiprock is like traveling to another country. He founded Shiprock as a government settlement for the San Juan School. The Navajo word for Shiprock is Tse'Bit'Ai, and means "rock with wings".
Shiprock is a crossroad for the trucks and the tourists visiting Four Corners Monument, Mesa Verde or the Grand Canyon. Even if the city is nearby many tourist locations it does not have any hotels or motels.
Shiprock hosts a Diné College (formerly Navajo Community College), a tribal community college. It also hosts annually marathons and relays since the 1980's attracting more and more racers every year from all over the world, being the only marathon event on the Navajo nation. Another event in Shiprock is the Navajo Nation Fair, the biggest Indian fair and rodeo in the U.S. with many Navajos visitors each year. The Shiprock Navajo Fair holds events including arts and crafts, science exhibits, livestock and others.
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