Early Hispanic Colorado 1678-1900

Early Hispanic Colorado 1678-1900 adds to our national story, sharing the history of early Hispanics from both Mexico and Spain as well as regional Native American tribes. The early history of Hispanic Colorado recognizes a people who have heroically survived nearly two hundred years of accelerated cultural change, beginning in 1848. It is about a people who successfully learned to navigate the legal systems of Spain, Mexico, and the United States in order to retain their lands and their values. This study places the history of expeditions led by Juan María Antonio Rivera, Franciscan friars Domínguez and Escalante, Governor Juan Bautista de Anza, José María de Arce and early Hispanic New Mexican traders in perspective.Their efforts led to the Hispanic settlement of southern Colorado - a significant chapter in both regional and national history.