Palmer Lake Historical Society, April 16 – Old West maps explored

April 29, 2026

Highlights*

At the Palmer Lake Historical Society monthly meeting April 16 Wesley A. Brown, explored how Pike, Long, and Spanish expeditions put Colorado on the map, highlighting pre-map Old West exploration.
Brown's presentation covered Zebulon Pike's 1806 expedition into Spanish territory toward Santa Fe, his failed Pikes Peak climb, and his 1807 capture and release, followed by his eventual map publishing.
The talk emphasized that Pike's published maps emerged after the expedition, contributing to early geographic knowledge of the region.
Next month's program, Trails to Interstate: Transportation Systems Across the Palmer Divide, will be presented by Lee Whitley on May 21, tracing how Interstate routes followed Native American and wagon trails.

*AI-generated

By Marlene Brown

The Palmer Lake Historical Society (PLHS) held its membership meeting on April 16 at the Palmer Lake Town Hall. The PLHS promotes, preserves, and protects the history of the Palmer Divide area.

April’s presentation was How the Expeditions of Pike, Long, and the Spanish put Colorado on the Map by Wesley A. Brown. Brown gave a lively talk about his love of maps of the Old West. Actually, it was the Old, Old West, before there were any maps in areas like Colorado.

**Above:** Wesley Brown, who presented a talk on maps of the early 1800s, is pictured with Diane Kokes, vice president of the Palmer Lake Historical Society, at the April meeting. Photo by Marlene Brown.

In 1806, Gen. Wilkinson ordered Zebulon Pike to explore the headwaters of the Arkansas and Red Rivers, enter Spanish Territory, and scout around Santa Fe. At the time, no one had mapped the area north of Santa Fe. On Thanksgiving Day, he and his soldiers attempted to climb Pikes Peak and were unsuccessful. Pike said that it could not be climbed, perhaps because of the time of year. Later in early 1807, he was captured by the Spanish and taken to Santa Fe in New Spain. He was released shortly thereafter and escorted to the U.S. boundary at Natchitoches, La. Little did Pike know at the time that he had fulfilled his mission, and he began to publish maps of his expeditions.(www.bostonraremaps.com)

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Next month, Lee Whitley presents Trails to Interstate: Transportation Systems Across the Palmer Divide. The Interstate systems were built on Native American trails and wagon trails, because they were the best routes to cross the country. Come May 21 to learn more.

PLHS meetings are usually held on the third Thursday of the month at 7-8:30 p.m. (doors open at 6:30 pm) at the Palmer Lake Town Hall, 28 Valley Crescent St. Free and open to the public. For full descriptions, dates and times for future programs and information on memberships or making a donation to the PLHS, visit its newly updated website: palmerdividehistory.org.

Marlene Brown can be reached at marlenebrown@ocn.me.

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