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What is DEEEP?

What is The Domínguez-Escalante Expedition Education Project (DEEEP)?

The Domínguez-Escalante Expedition Education Project, DEEEP, began as a question on February 2, 2020, when there seemed to be few answers about the Expedition in Colorado in 1776.

Three people stand by a sign that reads "Escalante-Dominguez Expedition Route Aug. 28, 1776" in a barren landscape.
North Fork Historical Society sign put up in 1975 on Highway 92 west of Austin. (The sign is no longer there.) Photo courtesy of the Delta County Independent May 5, 1975.

With not much information readily available, a group of over 85 volunteers who are ranchers, archeologists, historians, biologists, interested locals, educators, geologists, engineers, librarians, business owners, local historical groups, museums, universities, and state and federal agencies decided to come together to learn about, and then tell, the story of each day of the Domínguez-Escalante Expedition of 1776 in Colorado. Members of DEEEP come from all four states that the Expedition traveled through.

A Note from DEEEP Coordinator, Carol Hunter

A close-up photo of Carol Hunter, DEEEP Coordinator, an older woman with short gray hair and glasses standing outside in warm weather

I have been asked many times how did DEEEP start and who are some of the people of DEEEP. On February 2, 2020, I visited the Ute Indian Museum in Montrose, Colorado and the garden across the street. A winding path leads down into an interpretative garden explaining how the Utes would have used these plants. In the center of the garden is the Peace Pole with the message “May Peace Prevail on Earth” in both English and Núu-‘apaghapi, the language of the Ute. At the far end were several tall beautiful monuments with a tactile rendition of the members of the Domínguez-Escalante Expedition. Plaques were installed in the white stone monuments that told about different days of the Expedition story. I left wanting to know more about the Expedition and could find out little. This is where the story of the Domínguez-Escalante Expedition Education Project (DEEEP) begins.

The Project is really about a group of people that make up DEEEP and have come together to share their knowledge, time, energy to passionately tell its story. There are two different groups that have contributed to our research. The first are the researchers, using libraries and museums to learn about the Expedition and sharing what they have learned (included under Research & Resources). They have added serious academic depth to our project.

The second group are those who were out in the field. I want to share a little bit about some of them. The first historical group I met was angry because they thought the Miller report location for their section of the Expedition was wrong. They were insistent that DEEEP include all research provided by those in the field and let the user decided for themselves. DEEEP has.

These are just some of the people who have contributed and made DEEEP possible.

  • A rancher, hunting guide, and archeologist showed one of the ruins mentioned in Domínguez-Escalante Journal up close so it could be photographed as it is today and included in DEEEP research.
  • A rancher and his wife using a side by side to drive to the edge of a cliff looking far down into Horsefly Canyon and showing animal trails.
  • An oil field worker showed rock art that really matches the description of Domínguez and Escalante in the Journal.
  • An archeologist shows the location where once a signature and date of 1776 were etched. The evidence is now weathered completely away but old archeological reports show photos.
  • Two groups, one of 4 and another of 5, have worked tirelessly to show a section of the route not previously recorded.
  • A DEEEP member and his wife spend the summer of their 50th wedding anniversary mapping a deep difficult canyon that has not been previous recorded as part of the Expedition.
  • Another DEEEP member who has spent years documenting another ruin which he believes is the ruin mentioned on the Dolores River.
  • A favorite are two police officers from the Southern Ute Tribe bringing maps to explain how to get to the location of a campsite without trespassing on the Reservation. They were kind and patient and we laughed a lot.
  • Chasing (15 mph) a big blue tractor down a road to ask the driver about a place mentioned on his ranch. He became a special resource for many things.
  • The first time exploring deep in Disappointment Valley, coming upon a beautiful cowgirl who was out rounding up horses by herself. She gave a lay of the land and answered questions as sections of the Journal were read to her.
  • On a long dirt road, a mail carrier shared how his family had the Spanish land grant that the Navajo Dam is now build upon.
  • Another rancher answered how many gallons of water would a horse need to travel all day across a difficult terrain during a very hot weather?
  • A hermit living near where the Expedition came into Colorado, explained the terrain they would have covered to meet the San Miguel River.
  • A retired fire chief, who looked 16, told me I had wandered into Utah and that I was on the Old Spanish Trail.

The Website Team

A close-up photo of Carol Hunter, DEEEP Coordinator, an older woman with short gray hair and glasses standing outside in warm weather
Carol Hunter, DEEEP Coordinator and our fearless leader
A close-up photo of Samantha Hager, Outreach and Digital Repository Librarian Colorado State Publications Library, a young woman with long brown hair and a blue top with books in the background.
Samantha Hager, Outreach and Digital Repository Librarian Colorado State Publications Library
A close-up photo of Anna Rilling, Owner/Cartographer Four Corners Mapping & GIS, a young woman with long brown hair and a black jacket with white top, leaning on a chair.
Anna Rilling, Owner/Cartographer Four Corners Mapping & GIS
A close-up photo of Gabby Anstey McDonald, Outreach and Digital Repository Librarian Colorado State Publications Library, a young woman outside in warm weather wearing a blue baseball hat and sunglasses with long brown hair and a turquoise shawl.
Gabby Anstey McDonald, Owner of Chair 8 Design Web & Graphic Design Studio

The Expedition’s Purpose

The purpose of the 1776 Expedition was to find a way to link Santa Fe, New Mexico, with the missions of California. Father Domínguez would lead the Expedition and Father Escalante would keep the Journal. They were gone for 159 days and traveled 1,700 miles. They did not make it to California but did provide knowledge back to others of all that they experienced and saw. On August 5th they entered Colorado at Carracas and traveled through what is now called the western slope of Colorado, entering Utah on September 12, 1776.

DEEEP’s Purpose

DEEEP Colorado’s purpose is to provide a website for educators and researchers in time for the United States Semiquincentennial in 2026, the 250th anniversary of the 1776 Domínguez-Escalante Expedition. The website design has inclusivity in mind, ensuring accessibility for users with disabilities.

How We Did It

This project has been a true labor of love and those involved have worked tirelessly to bring it to fruition.

Some DEEEP members and teams have worked for two years, some longer, mapping each day of the expedition in Colorado. Other members
have amassed a collection of research materials, leveraging the resources of libraries and universities in the four states traversed by the Expedition.

DEEEP Colorado has received a grant from the West End Pay It Forward Trust. Individual sponsors and members have also funded the creation of the website. West End Economic Development Corporation (WEEDC), a non-profit organization, manages funding for DEEEP.

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