The last time I was at the Four Corners Monument in um, Arizona, Utah, New Mexico and Colorado was sometime in the late 60’s I believe. At that time it was a lone monument up two steps surrounded by a parking lot. It was unknown to me, at that time, that it was part of the Navajo Nation. It was free to come and go and people did.

A short diversion out of the way for people traveling this way, there is always a constant flow of people willing to take this side trip to stand in 4 states at once, the only place that this happens. So, Jim had not been here before and I wanted to go again, so at least he could say he was there.

What has changed is that the monument now costs $8 a person. And there are structures in every state, which are actually cubicles for vendors. Navajo vendors, some good, much of it the usual tourist stuff, of course. Many booths were empty. White man’s roadside attractions have done it for years. Why shouldn’t the Navajo take advantage of the four corners being on their land? However, I must say I was a bit disappointed, coming all this way just for a photo pic and then having to pay $16 for this shot. Still trying to decide whether it was worth it. I suppose after all we spent just to get to this point, what’s $16 more and a gallon of gas?

PS: There are picnic tables, but no shade.