Anza250 Lecture Series

On Saturday, November 29th, 2025, at 10:00 a.m., the Anza Trail Foundation and the Yuma County Library District will host Arizona trails expert Dr. Aaron Wright, of Archaeology Southwest, for a free presentation on the historic 1775-76 Anza Expedition, to be held at the Foothills Library. 

 

Dr. Wright’s presentation, Following Their Footsteps: Indigenous Geography and the Anza Expedition of 1775-1776, will explore how this Spanish colonial expedition utilized pre-existing indigenous trail infrastructure and knowledge to ensure a successful journey. 

 

The Yuma presentation is part of the Anza250 Lecture Series, commemorating the 250th anniversary of the epic 1775-76 Anza Expedition, when over 240 Spanish colonists trekked overland from Sinaloa, Mexico, across Alta California (including present-day southern Arizona and California) to establish a Spanish presence in San Francisco.

 

The Anza250 Lecture series has been made possible by a generous grant from Arizona Humanities, and the Yuma lecture is brought to you by a partnership between the Anza Trail Foundation,  the Yuma County Library District, and the Yuma Crossing National Heritage Area.