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

This is one of several markers that traces Lt. Zebulon Pike’s southwestern expedition.

1806-7 LT. ZEBULON PIKE’S SOUTHWESTERN EXPEDITION

US Army expedition to explore the United States new southwest boundary with New Spain.

The Men:
Lt. Zebulon Pike
Dr. John H. Robinson
"Baroney" Vasquez
Sgt. William Meeker
Corp. Jeremiah Jackson
Privates:
John Brown
Jacob Carter
Thomas Dougherty
William Gordon
Hugh Menaugh
Theodore Miller
John Mountjoy
Alexander Roy
Patrick Smith
John Sparks
Freegift Stout

The Expedition:
6th-10th December 1806 (Pike)
"Sent out 3 different parties to hunt for
the 'Spanish Trace', ...(explored mouth
of Gorge)... bounded on each side by
the rocks of the mountain. Killed two
buffalo, two deer, one turkey. ...men
find two branches of the river to be
impracticable for horses, ...discovered
Spanish Troops had ascended a dry
valley to the right. Killed one wild cat".

Sight of the Sign:
Pike's second camp(5th-14th January) after
ascending South Park and Upper Arkansas
River(10th Dec. - 4th Jan.) was also made here.

"I determined to build a small place
for defense and deposit and leave part
of baggage, (lame) horses, interpreter,
and one man, (smith)...". 1807 (Pike)

After making scientific and geolocical
observations, Pike started west up Grape Creek
to search for the Red River. Jan 14, 1807

For further reading:
“The Southwest Journals of Zebulon Pike - 1806 - 1807”
Hart, Hulbert & Gardner
U. of New Mexico Press 2006

Group or Groups Responsible for Placement: Fremont County County or City: Fremont County, Canon City Date Dedicated: Not listed Check here for Web link(s) for additional information: Not listed

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