1. The Nation and the Men that discovered Colorado
The Explorers!

2. 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

3. The Spanish

4. 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

5. 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

6. 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

7. 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

8. 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.

9. 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

10. The French

11. 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

12. 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

13. 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

14. The New Era

15. 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

16. 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

17. 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

18. 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!

19. 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

20. 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

21. 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

22. 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

23. 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”