Oraibi has existed since at least 1100 AD, but due to the paucity of archaeological research, it may have been occupied much earlier. Located in Northern Arizona and situated atop the 3rd Mesa of the Hopi Nation. Spanish explorer Francisco Vázquez de Coronado sent Pedro de Tovar and 20 men to make contact in 1540. The Spanish built the San Francisco mission in 1629, but the Hopis destroyed the mission in 1680 during the Pueblo revolt. Oraibi represented one of the central Hopi village sites until the turn of the twentieth century, when some of its population relocated in 1906.
Throughout Oraibi’s history, the city has not only undergone population fluctuations but also architectural reformation. An examination of thousands of photographs, prints, and detailed maps dating back to the 1800s reveal the first houses in Oraibi were one room wide and often four stories tall. The town was structured so houses were built in long, linear room blocks, with adjacent houses sharing walls. There were 25 room blocks that most faced southeast. Toward the end of the 19th century, when Navajo raids became less common, many upper stories of the shelters were dismantled, as living on lower stories became preferred. European materials such as glass windows, milled lumber, and woodburning stoves were added within Oraibi architecture. The introduction of stoves led to an increase in room size, allowing for the heating of larger spaces. After 1906 many room blocks were abandoned as people consolidated into the west part of the village near the main plaza.
Oraibi remains a vibrant testament to the Hopi spirit of resilience. The peaceful people of Oraibi have endured centuries of drought, colonial pressures, and conflicts with other Indigenous peoples. The current residents of Oraibi are private, and while they are welcoming to visitors, they ask them to refrain from taking pictures or videos. The remarkable settlement of Oraibi offers unique insight into Indigenous America and contributes profoundly to Hopi history.
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