We are excited to unveil the new official NPS Anza Trail brochure as we approach the Anza 250 commemoration. We see this as more than just a guide to the trail, it's an Anza 250 product and a bridge between past and present. The map was created in partnership with NPS Harpers Ferry Center staff, and the layout and design in collaboration with the creative services team at the Government Publishing Office.
Crafted with care and collaboration, the brochure endeavors to broaden the timeline and the storytelling along the trail and explore the impacts of the 1775–1776 expedition. It honors the Indigenous communities whose ancient trails made the journey possible and whose knowledge guided the expedition through some of the harshest terrain in the West. It also acknowledges the complex motivations of the colonists—many of whom were of mixed heritage and seeking opportunity in a new land—and the lasting impacts of colonization on Native peoples.
We hope that volunteers, educators, advocates, and partners will use its contents to spark deeper conversations about resilience, identity, and shared history. Trail users will discover how the route weaves through not only landscapes but also centuries of cultural exchange, conflict, and survival. The brochure invites readers to reflect:
What might make you leave your home forever?
What stories do the lands beneath your feet hold?
By grounding the trail’s legacy in both historical truth and contemporary relevance, the team (which includes partners, fellows, and staff) has created a resource that will resonate with communities along the trail and beyond. It’s a tool for learning, a call to stewardship, and a celebration of our complicated heritage and cultures.
As the Anza Trail continues to connect people and places, this new brochure ensures that the voices of the past—and the lessons they carry—remain alive and relevant for generations to come.
We extend our heartfelt gratitude to the team that collaborated on this year-long project:
Dr. Sarah Montoya
Dr. Brittany Romanello
Dr. Jonathan Cordero
Alyce Sadongei
Mauro Trejo
Emily Kessler
Paula Ogden-Muse
Elizabeth Morales
Anza Trail Team,
Christopher, Kimberly, and Estrella
