There are few places in the world as sacred and culturally rich as the Hopi Reservation in Arizona. Located in the northeastern part of the state and entirely surrounded by the much larger Navajo Nation, the Hopi Reservation has been continuously inhabited since around 1100 CE, making it the longest continuously inhabited place in the United States.
Travelers Cosmo and Silvia are encouraged by Crazy Ted to visit Hopi, who tells them they’d be missing out on the chance to see the so-called “center of the universe.” During their visit, they meet the local Hopi community, including skilled artisans dedicated to creating traditional jewelry and crafts. They also encounter children who find joy in the simple pleasures of playing outdoors under the Arizona sun.
Cosmo is deeply moved by how the people of Hopi seem happy and content despite the region’s sparse resources and economic challenges. He reflects that their happiness may stem from their strong connection to a spiritual world beyond what is visible. Silvia observes that art plays a central role in Hopi culture, providing people with a creative outlet that helps them transcend the pressures of daily life. She explains, “People who create have an outlet, a way to break free and transcend this crazy world… When I paint, I get in touch with that higher part of myself. I think it’s the world that takes me away from this part of me.”
Experiencing the Hopi Reservation is not just a journey through a breathtaking landscape—it’s an immersion into a living cultural heritage, where art, spirituality, and community intertwine.
This post is from my blog series on the places visited in the road trip story, “Discovery of an Eagle.”
Grace Mattioli is the author of the Greco Family Trilogy books, including Olive Branches Don’t Grow on Trees, Discovery of an Eagle, and The Bird that Sang in Color. These books are available from all major online book sellers, including Amazon, Barnes & Noble, and Apple Books.
