Closeup of Mitten-Monument Valley

Guest Book IN THE VALLEY

Mike and Harry Goulding, residents of Monument Valley for thirty-three years, have entertained many notable visitors from all over the world, at their trading post and lodge.

When Mr. and Mrs. Goulding (Harry and Mike to all of their friends who have traveled the lonely road to Monument Valley) arrived in the Valley thirty-three years ago, automobiles were fewer apart than they are today, and the roads were called roads simply because one used a more polite word than cowtrails.

The Gouldings came to the Valley originally as sheep buyers. But like so many people since, the Valley cast its spell upon them. Long before our modern age of travel, long before the tourist became an important part of our economy, the Gouldings dreamed of a time when all the world would come to their place to 'set a spell' and enjoy their beloved Valley.

The first visitor came a long, long time ago, when they still lived in tents at the bottom of the cliff where they now have their lodge. No one knows what brought that first wayfarer into the strange and beautiful land. Since then, many people have followed in his footsteps and, as evidence of their journey, you can find their names in a guest book in the Valley.

Here are recorded names from all states and from many foreign lands beyond the sea. Greetings are found in as many languages as were found in the Tower of Babel; and here, in this guest book, are found friendly greetings from such distant places as Alabama and Alaska, Maine and Mexico.

The inscriptions are revealing: “Our second trip confirms our belief that this is a unique country and seeing it again is a unique experience,” wrote Josef and Joyce Muench in 1939, and not a