The Nation and the Men that discovered Colorado The Explorers!

Who are we talking about? The Spanish Juan De Archuleta Juan De Ulibarri Juan Maria de Rivera Dominguez and Escalante French Mallet Brothers Rene-Robert Cavalier New Era Zebulon Pike Stephen Long John Fremont

The Spanish

The Spanish The Spanish in Mexico heard stories about the Indians in the north and the gold that was also there. They sent explorers to find the gold The explorers were also sent to find land for farms and ranches Spoiler Alert The French were already there! The French claimed land in the Mississippi Valley but like the Spanish they wanted more so they traded with the plains Indians and moved west They traded weapons and guns… the Spanish NEVER traded anything that would give Indians power

Juan de Archuleta 1664 One of the first Europeans to journey into CO He was leading a group of Spaniards who were in search of runaway Indians (Pueblos Slaves) Chases these Indians to a group of Apache Villages El Quartelejo present day east of Pueblo (the city) He said he also saw Pawnee Indians with French goods This caused issues because the Spanish did not want the French taking any of what they claimed as New Spain

Juan de Ulibarri 1706 Several years after Archuleta, Ulibarri and 40+ soldiers chased after runaway slaves (Indians) Everywhere Ulibarri went he claimed land for Spain He finally reach El Quartelejio There he talked with the Apache people They discussed the battles between Apache and Pawnee Showed Ulibarri the weapons that the Pawnee had used during fighting More proof that the French had made it out to the western plains When he return he told about the land in the Arkansas area and how the Pawnee were friends with the French

Juan Maria de Rivera 1765 Several years after Juan de Ulibarri Juan Maria Rivera lead and expedition through the San Juan Mountains Searching for Gold and silver Travels ended at the Gunnison River near present day delta Only found traces of gold He returned to New Mexico with the samples The greatest result is not his finding of gold traces but the knowledge Rivera learned about the region He would create notes and maps that would forever help other explorers while they traveled in Colorado

Dominguez and Escalante 1776 11 years after Rivera 2 catholic priests sent out to explore Francisco Atanasio Dominguez and Silvestre Velez de Escalante Their job was to find a route from Santa Fe NM to Monterey CA Needed this trail to grow New Spain The trail would lead to ranches, farms, communication, etc.

Dominguez and Escalante- The journey They left Santa Fe with 12 men and pack animals Followed the rivers to the Western slope of the Rocky Mountains Here is where they met up with Ute Indians One Indian guide lead them to good hunting ground up on the grand mesa the other 11 year old guide led them all the way to the Utah River They took notes on birds, land, animals, food, plants, etc. Their travels were cut short because of winter storms However their maps and journals would assist future explorers

The French

Rene-Robert Cavalier 1682 Claimed northeastern Colorado for France He also claimed the Mississippi Valley and all its rivers for France This was the Louisiana Territory

Mallet Brothers 1739 French Explores Explored the areas from the Missouri River down to Santa Fe They were the explorers that named the Platte River Platte in French means flat They were the first known explorers in this region

Impact of the European Explores Changed the Indian culture forever! Brought over the horse Cats, pigs, goats, sheep, cattle and chickens Brought disease and sickness Smallpox and measles Other Impacts Alamosa ( cottonwood), Colorado (Reddish in color) River, Conejos (Rabbit), Durango (Waterhole), Las Animas (Spirits or souls), Mancos (hand), Rio Grande ( Big River), San Juan (St. John), San Luis (St. Louis), Sangre de Cristo (Blood of Christ) Mountains

The New Era

The land Changes hands 1803 Louisiana Territory Bought by the United States of America 500 million acres of land west of the Mississippi River This would double the size of the United States

Exploring the Louisiana Territory President Jefferson Sent explorers to discover and map out the land that came with the Louisiana Purchase Captain Meriwether Lewis and Lt. William Clark to explore the northern part of the Louisiana territory 2 years later he sent Lt. Zebulon Pike to southern boundaries of the Louisiana Territory

Pike’s Expedition 1806 Left St. Louis with 20 soldier, a doctor and a translator Traveled through many Indiana villages Eventually made their way along the Arkansas River Came upon a Huge Mountain tried to climb it didn’t make it Followed the Arkansas River through to the Royal Gorge Got arrested by the Spanish at Pike’s Stockade

After Pike’s Expedition Made maps of the areas they explored Wrote all about his expedition Helped future explorers and travelers Fun fact By Christmastime, Pike’s group had run out of food. Their clothing was worn and not warm enough for winter months so they killed 8 buffalo and use the hides to survive the winter months!

Long’s Expedition 1820 14 years after Pike Major Stephen H. Long led another expedition into the Rocky Mountains Soldiers, scientists, mapmakers, and artists Mission: Find the source of the South Platte River

The Journey Starts June 1820 In July Long’s group made camp in an area that would later be the city of Denver From there they followed the South Platte into the mountains. When he returned he would say that the land was unfit for cultivation… “The Great American Desert” Fun facts Dr. Edwin James Doctor for the Expedition and scientist He drew/discovered what would later be CO state flower … Columbine!!! The flower that he drew was near present day Palmer Lake James Peak outside of Boulder is named for this Doctor

Fremont Expeditions 1840s John C. Fremont “The Great Pathfinder” Lead 5 expedition in the west US Government hires Fremont to create maps of the west Fremont’s Wife Jessie help him turn his notes into exciting reports In turn his work became very popular

Expeditions Number I-III Number IV Mission: Find a Railway route Was assisted by Cheyenne Indians who saved the explorers from being killed by the Arapaho Explored the South Platte as a possible route Two more expeditions would follow but no route would be found Number IV Rich Business men hire Fremont Start their trip in winter (not a good idea) March out of the San Luis Valley and into the San Juan Mountains 11 men and all the mules would freeze to death

Expedition V Five years after the freezing expeditions Fremont leads one more Followed the trail of Cpt. John Gunnison Through the Black Canyon and along the Colorado River Fremont described the land different from all the other explorers… “ The soils of this country is excellent, admirable adapted for agricultural purposes and would support a large population”