Down a winding country lane, 25 minutes and another world from downtown Santa Fe is Babbitt's Cottonwood Trading Post. Nestled among the giant cottonwood trees within the San Ildefonso Pueblo Reservation, the Trading Post serves the needs of the local Indians and interests of pueblo visitors. Here you'll see hundreds of historic and contemporary potteries along with authentic Indian dance goods, moccasins and colorful Pendleton blankets.

Historically, San Ildefonso is considered to be the capital of Indian pottery. This pueblo was home to Maria Martinez, the famous potter who, with her husband Julian, revived and perfected the subtle and exquisite black-on-black pottery back in 1919. Hers is the epitome of world-class pueblo art and has long been prized by collectors. In this wonderful shop you can select your Maria pot and visit with her great-great grandson Ray Martinez. As manager of the Trading Post, Ray brings a wealth of firsthand knowledge about Maria in particular and of pottery in general. Maria's descendants and extended family today carry on the ancient art of the clay.

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