Near Hesperus in La Plata County, Colorado — The American Mountains (Southwest)

Dominguez-Escalante Expedition

Photographed by Leslie Orr, November 4, 2025

1. Dominguez-Escalante Expedition Marker

Inscription.

On August 10, 1776, there passed by here the expedition of Fathers Francisco Atanasio Dominguez and Silvestre Velez de Escalante with eight companions. They were seeking a route to link the long established missions of New Mexico with Monterey, the recently founded capital of California.

Topics and series. This historical marker is listed in these topic lists: Colonial Era • Exploration. In addition, it is included in the Dominguez y Escalante Expedition series list. A significant historical year for this entry is 1776.

Location. 37° 19.54′ N, 108° 7.976′ W. Marker is near Hesperus, Colorado, in La Plata County. It is on U.S. 160 0.8 miles Cherry Creek Road, on the left when traveling west. Touch for map. Marker is in this post office area: Hesperus CO 81326, United States of America. Touch for directions.

Regionally, this marker is in the American Mountain West

and at the Four Corners.

Globally, it is in North America,

the Rocky Mountains,

the Western Hemisphere,

the Western World,

and the Anglosphere.

Other nearby markers. At least 8 other markers are within 9 miles of this marker, measured as the crow flies:

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The Old Spanish Trail (here, next to this marker); Dominguez & Escalante (here, next to this marker); Fort Lewis College (approx. 8 miles away); Cedar Grove Cemetery Veterans' Memorial (approx. 8.6 miles away); 1892 Horse-Drawn Pull Grader (approx. 8.7 miles away); Hard Pressed (approx. 8.7 miles away); Bauer Bank Building (approx. 8.7 miles away); Bauer House (approx. 8.7 miles away). Touch for a list and map of all markers in Hesperus.

Another marker is no longer nearby. Dominguez and Escalante (was here, next to this marker but has been reported to have been replaced with another marker now near it).

Also see . . . Dominguez - Escalante Expedition - Wikipedia entry. (Submitted on February 6, 2014.)

Photographed by Duane Hall, October 10, 2010

2. Dominguez-Escalante Expedition Marker

Photographed by Leslie Orr, November 4, 2025

3. Dominguez - Escalante Expedition Marker

Credits. This page was last revised on December 2, 2025. It was originally submitted on February 6, 2014, by Duane Hall of Abilene, Texas. This page has been viewed 1,493 times since then and 80 times this year. Photos: 1. submitted on December 1, 2025, by Leslie Eudy of Golden, Colorado. 2. submitted on February 6, 2014, by Duane Hall of Abilene, Texas. 3. submitted on December 1, 2025, by Leslie Eudy of Golden, Colorado.