Garden of the Gods Trading Post

Specialties

The historic Garden of the Gods Trading Post lies on the southwest corner of the Garden of the Gods Park. In the early 1920’s Charles Strausenback built the Trading Post to resemble the homes of the Pueblo Indians. Since that time, the Trading Post has expanded six times to become Colorado’s largest art gallery and gift shop. The art gallery features local artists, traditional and contemporary Native American jewelry, Navajo rugs, sand paintings and pueblo pottery. Colorado gifts and souvenirs can be found in the main store as well as Minnetonka moccasins and outdoor clothing. You can grab a bite to eat at the Balanced Rock Café and finish your day off with an ice cream or Starbucks coffee in our coffee corner. The Garden of the Gods Trading Post has something for everyone. Come on over today!

History

Established in 1900.

In the early 1920’s Charles E. Strausenback built the Trading Post to resemble the homes of the Pueblo Indians. While still in his teens, Strausenback set up a tripod stand at the Garden’s East Gateway Rock. Here, in front of Fatty Rice’s beer hall, Strausenback sold gypsum figurines which he carved. This was the beginning of the Garden of the Gods Trading Post. In 1924, plans were underway to create an «Indian Pueblo curio museum.» Its purpose was to be a showplace so that eastern people, who did not have the opportunity to visit the rest of the great southwest, might have the opportunity to study the Indian Pueblo structures. Pueblo Indians were employed to perform native dances and to make baskets and pottery at the new shop. Navajo men and women were hired to weave blankets and create handmade jewelry. The Trading Post, welcomes over 400,000 visitors annually, and has become one of the main attractions of Colorado Springs, at the south side of world famous Garden of the Gods Park.