Lt. Zebulon Pike's Southwestern Expedition - Sanford, CO - Colorado Historical Markers on Waymarking.com

This marker is one of several that traces the route of Lt. Zebulon Pike's expedition into the southwestern portion of the Louisiana Purchase. Pike left St. Louis on July 15, 1806 and headed across the great plains to the Arkansas River. He then followed this river upstream, past the mountain that would later bear his name, and eventually crossing the Sangre de Cristo mountains near the Great Sand Dunes. The expedition sought to find the headwaters of the Red River, but mistakenly followed the Rio Grande del Norte into Spanish territory where he was captured and later released in Louisiana on July 1, 1807.

This marker is located near the site of Pike's Stockade where he was captured by the Spanish and corresponds to January 31st 1807. The sign contains excerpts from Pike's diary and maps of the expedition. Portions of the marker have been transcribed below:

(1806-7) Lt. Zebulon Pike's Southwestern Expedition

U.S. Army Expedition to explore the United States new southwest boundary with New Spain.

The men:
Zt. Zebulon M. Pike
Dr. John H. Robinson
Sgt. William Meek
Corp. Jeremiah Jackson
Privates:
John Brown
Jacob Carter
William Gordon
Theodore Miller
John Mountjoy
Alexander Roy
Freegift Stout

Travel the route of these explorers and read Lt. Pike's own words from his journal.

The Expedition:

31st January: 1807 (Pike)
"...establish a position that four or five (men) might defend against the insolence, cupidity, and barbarity of the savages, whilst the others returned to assist on the poor fellows who were left behind at different points. We descended 18 miles, when we met a large west branch, emptying into the main stream,... up five miles, took up station".

Site of this sign:

Time and hard work have created the fertile ranches along this road. Families who were early settlers in this area have passed ranches from generation to generation. Many are still here. Directly south, one can see the mesa that Pike used as a vantage point of the Valley. His stockade was built at the base of the mountain, where he began his period of waiting.

Historians still speculate on just what Pike was doing. Waiting for his soldiers left behind? Resting and resupplying? Or waiting to be discovered by the Spanish authorities? His log entries are very revealing, but leave much to speculation.

Credits:

For further information: Contact the local Historical Society or the local county government.
This Sign location constructed and maintained by county employees.
This Sign funded in part by a grant from the Department of Local Affairs under the Energy and Mineral Impact Assistance Program, State of Colorado. Debra Downs - Regional Manager
Research and Coordination - Kit Shy
Text not Pike's - Debra Goodman
Sign design - Robert E. Pratt
For further reading: "The Southwest Journals of Zebulon Pike - 1806-1807", Hart, Hulbert, & Gardner, U. of New Mexico Press, 2006

Source: Historical marker text, Wikipedia

Group or Groups Responsible for Placement: State of Colorado Alamosa County Historical Society County or City: Alamosa County Date Dedicated: Not listed Check here for Web link(s) for additional information: Not listed

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