1911 - Thousands see Hopi Snake Dance.. "which each year attracts more and more tourists."

Like nearly all Native Americans living in early 20th -century America, the Hopi's were incredibly poor. One way they carved out a bit of money was to open up their annual Snake Dance to tourists... which became more and more popular as time went on.

The article to the right says:  THOUSAND SEE SNAKE DANCE

Four Palefaces Admitted to Hopi Holy of Holies

Watch the Priests Wash and Bless the Serpents

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Phoenix (Az), Aug 24 -- The Hopi Indians last week held their annual snake dance, which each year attracts more and more tourists. The dance is given for the purpose of bringing rain. This year a heavy rain fell the day before the dance, but that did not interfere with the plans of the priests. They had been holding a prayer festival for nine days when the rain came, and perhaps they merely thought that their devotion had been rewarded. The snake dance has never been omitted, rain or no rain, since the white man has been in Arizona. Had it not been given this year about a thousand white persons, twice as many as ever saw the dance before, would have been disappointed. --- Source: 1913, Aug 25  The Los Angeles Times 

1913, Aug 25  The Los Angeles Times 

                                                                   See here... it was FAMOUS.

1918, Sep 6.  The 

An account of the 1920 Snake Dance was reported in this newspaper article, where about a thousand tourists witnessed this sacred, ancient event.

Hopi Snake Dance Took Place...

          Following is the account of the Hopi Snake Dance given by the Flagstaff Leader, who had a man on the ground:
          Attended by a crowd estimated at 1,000, the largest ever at a similar affair, the famous annual Hopi Indian snake dance was held at Hotevilla village, on the Hopi Indian reservation, 115 miles northeast of Flagstaff...

 1920, Aug 28   Mohave Country Miner and Our Mineral Wealth 

 1920, Aug 28   Mohave Country Miner and Our Mineral Wealth 

          Many notables were present, including Mary Roberts Rinehart, the Saturday Evening Post writer; former mayor, Carter H Harrison of Chicago; United States Senator Henry F Ashurst; Dr Harley Stamp from the Smithsonian Institute; Richard Forsyth, caricturist for the New York Herald, and James Swinnerton of Flagstaff, cartoonist for the Hearst papers.
          It is estimated that 250 automobiles from various parts of the United States carried parties to the dance. There were more cars from Flagstaff than from any other point. Many came from southern Arizona and other Arizona points, as well as from points outside of the state.
          Unlike some of the former dances, none of the Indians were snake bitten during Wednesday's festivities. No blood flowed at this year's dances, despite the fact that the snakes used this year were as poisonous as those used at former dances.
          The Hopi snake dance is noted the world over, there being nothing on earth that duplicates it or that is anything like it. It is something entirely Hopi. Tourists from all over the country flock into northern Arizona every year and go from here to the reservation to witness this weird dance.
                                   --- Source: 1920, Aug 28   Mohave Country Miner and Our Mineral Wealth 

A few days later, a reporter from The Los Angeles Times wrote a story about the event. A few notable points he made were:
1. These ancient rites are understood only by the Priests
2. The ceremony is of a religious nature.
3. The Snake Dance is one of the most important dances of the Hopi Indians.
4. One of the main goals of the dance is to bring about life-sustaining rain to the area.
5. 400-500 white spectators may view the Snake Dance ceremonies, but other ceremonies are closed to outsiders.
6. The Snake Dance has been widely written about in newspapers and magazines.

1920, Aug 29.    The Los Angeles Times 

1920, Aug 29.    The Los Angeles Times 

1920, Aug 29.    The Los Angeles Times 

And..... 

1920, Aug 29.    The Los Angeles Times 

1920, Aug 29.    The Los Angeles Times 

1920, Aug 29.    The Los Angeles Times 

1921, Sep 4   Pittsburgh Daily Post 

Now... while the Hopi were performing their ceremonies for tourists and making money for their community, people were watching. Not only were the Hopi's drawing in the tourist crowd, but they were making national - and even international - news. Their ceremony was growing in popularity.

1909, Aug 11  Albuquerque Citizen 

In 1914, Kate Cory, "the well known local painter of Indian subjects" was also gaining popularity in Prescott, Az.

1914, March 4   Weekly Journal Miner