The Klagetoh (Leeyi´ tó) Chapter House is a historic
chapter house of the
Navajo Nation
The Navajo Nation ( nv, Naabeehó Bináhásdzo), also known as Navajoland, is a Native American reservation in the United States. It occupies portions of northeastern Arizona, northwestern New Mexico, and southeastern Utah; at roughly , the ...
in
Klagetoh, Arizona. The landmark building is significant for its association with
Annie Dodge Wauneka
Annie Dodge Wauneka (April 11, 1910 – November 10, 1997) was an influential member of the Navajo Nation as member of the Navajo Nation Council. As a member and three term head of the council's Health and Welfare Committee, she worked to improve ...
(1910–1997), a leading figure in local chapter and Navajo Nation affairs and role model for women's involvement Navajo affairs. Built in 1963, it is one of the few surviving permanent structures associated with Wauneka's life. It was designated a
National Historic Landmark
A National Historic Landmark (NHL) is a building, district, object, site, or structure that is officially recognized by the United States government for its outstanding historical significance. Only some 2,500 (~3%) of over 90,000 places listed ...
in 2021, and continues to serve the area community as a meeting place.
Description and history
The Klagetoh Chapter House is located in the small community of Klagetoh, roughly midway between
Ganado and
Chambers
Chambers may refer to:
Places
Canada:
*Chambers Township, Ontario
United States:
*Chambers County, Alabama
* Chambers, Arizona, an unincorporated community in Apache County
* Chambers, Nebraska
* Chambers, West Virginia
* Chambers Township, Hol ...
on
United States Route 191
U.S. Route 191 (US 191) is a spur of U.S. Route 91 that has two branches. The southern branch runs for from Douglas, Arizona on the Mexican border to the southern part of Yellowstone National Park. The northern branch runs for from the north ...
. The chapter house is set west of the highway, with a landscaped courtyard dedicated to Navajo Nation military members. The building is a single-story stone structure, built out of local sandstone by chapter members. It is square in shape, with a shallow pitch pyramidal roof that has a cupola at the center. Its main entrance faces east in a traditional Navajo orientation. Most of the building interior is taken up by a large meeting space, with restrooms, kitchen, and storage areas to one side. A massive stone fireplace occupies one end of the room, with a raised rostrum area at the other end.
Annie Dodge Wauneka was a prominent figure in the Klagetoh Chapter of the Navajo Nation. In addition to her leading role (from 1951 to 1979) on the Navajo Nation Council, she was regularly active in chapter activities. She was instrumental in raising the funds for the construction of this building, and in influencing the design to include traditional Navajo materials and design elements.
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See also
*
*
*
* List of National Historic Landmarks in Arizona
This is a List of National Historic Landmarks in Arizona. There are 47 National Historic Landmarks (NHLs) in Arizona, counting Hoover Dam that spans from Nevada and is listed in Nevada by the National Park Service (NPS), and Yuma Crossing and Asso ...
References
External links
*
{{National Register of Historic Places
1963 establishments in Arizona
Government buildings completed in 1963
Buildings and structures in Apache County, Arizona
National Historic Landmarks in Arizona
Government buildings on the National Register of Historic Places in Arizona
National Register of Historic Places in Apache County, Arizona
Navajo Nation government