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Show SECTION B THE 1976 EXPEDITION AND CALENDAR OF EVENTS significant amount of time and effort has been expended during the preparation of this study to discussing the possibility of devoting bicentennial year events to recognition of the Dominguez-Escalante Most of the communities in the vicinity of the trail route Expedition. are planning special events for the bicentennial celebration. During the realization the to introduced months. officials have been local past many that the Dominguez-Escalante Expedition was one of the most significant For much of events that occurred in this part of the world in 1776. intrusion of documented was first and this the Utah Arizona, Colorado, native the of their The Fathers recorded impressions great Europeans. cultures of the area and provided a picture of the mountain west in 1776, far different from the Yankee Doodle and Benjamin Franklin caricature so typical of the bicentennial image. Through the eyes of Fathers Dominguez and Escalante, we can see our land as it existed; we can see the people who inhabited this region and who created intricate artifacts A . and ingeniously habitable structures. vividly apparent that recognition of the Expedition would provide a magnificent opportunity for the three great cultures who now occupy this region, Indian, Hispanic and Anglo, to demonstrate their The impact of this own interpretation of the "coming of the white man." historic process left a far different impression on each of these cultures, and each is a fascinating part of our American heritage. It has become Contacts have been made with individuals and groups representinq the major cultures throughout the four states during which bicentennial events were Contacts included the Southern Ute Indian Tribe, several New discussed. Mexico pueblos, Hopi and Uihtah-Ouray Tribes, National Park Service, Bureau of Reclamation, and numerous County and local bicentennial repre A substantial number of these may provide some locally interpretive recognition of the Expedition. This report recommends very highly that this effort be continued into the bicentennial year by local If this work contributes even modestly to better bicentennial officials. the between major cultures, it may well be one of the most understanding the entire American Bicentennial. of significant projects sentatives. THE 1976 EXPEDITION most unique and significant single event to take place in commemoration of the Dominguez-Escalante Expedition is the 1976 Dominquez The DEBE will leave Santa Fe, Escalante Bicentennial Expedition (DEBE). New Mexico on July 29, 1976, and retrace the route of the original expe The DEBE will attempt to dition, at least to the Utah-Arizona border. The planners of the DEBE follow the same schedule as the original trek. Perhaps the have published the following description of the event. B-1 |
