Navajo Nation Council Chamber

The Navajo Nation Council Chamber is a Pueblo Revival style building with red sandstone walls and an octagonal shape that reflects traditional hogan structures. The eight-sided design echoes the dwelling form used for generations by Navajo families.

The building was constructed in 1935 during the New Deal era, marking a shift in federal policy toward Native American self-determination. This period introduced new laws that allowed indigenous peoples greater control over their own affairs.

The interior walls display murals created by Gerald Nailor Sr. that tell stories of Navajo history and traditions through visual art. These works connect local artistic skill with the building's role as a symbol of tribal identity.

The building is located in Window Rock, the administrative center of the Navajo Nation. Visitors should know that this is an active government building where access may be restricted depending on whether legislative sessions are taking place.

This is the only legislative headquarters in the United States that has been continuously used by an American Indian nation for governance. The structure represents an unbroken chain of tribal self-rule spanning nearly one hundred years.