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Explorers' Trails
"We tarried a good while...and after a lengthy conversation drew forth nothing more useful than that we had suffered the sun's heat, which was indeed very fiery all the while the talk lasted.
-- Father Silvestre Velez de Escalante, 1776.
In 1776, Franciscan Fathers Francisco Atanasio Dominguez and Silvestre Velez de Escalante attempted to establish an overland route between Santa Fe and Monterey, California. They also hoped to carry their religious message to any native people they met along the way.
The journey proved more difficult than planned. Too little food, too many mountains and extreme weather caused the expedition to turn back. Though their original purpose failed, they succeeded in opening the way for continuing exploration of the area.
The road you travel today follows portions of the Dominguez - Escalante route. |