New Mexico: The French Presence since the 1500s
With special focus on Northern New Mexico and Southern Colorado

Presenter:
Francois-Marie Patorni

The history of the French, French Canadians, and of other French-speaking people in New Mexico covers the last 400 years and all areas of New Mexico and the southwest. Over time, Santa Fe emerged as a communication hub, with three main trails converging upon the city: the Santa Fe Trail, heading north to Colorado and east to Missouri; to the north-west, the Old Spanish Trail, ultimately extending to California; and the Camino Real de Tierra Adentro, reaching south to Mexico City.

Through stories woven in the flow of time, we will focus on the presence of the French-speaking people in northern New Mexico, southern Colorado, and the Santa Fe Trail. We will meet early explorers, trappers and traders, Catholic priests, military men, entrepreneurs, and others. Because of their large number, we will focus on a few notable or unusual people, and tell lesser-known stories.

Sunday, April 10, 2022, 6pm
Dinner Lecture at The Fort
19192 Highway 8, Morrison, CO 80465

Dinner Lecture Menu: Chips, guacamole and salsa, fresh baked breads, Fort signature salad, with damiana vinaigrette dressing; Two Pan Seared Tender Duck Breasts served with a Cherry Bourbon Shallot Sauce on a bed of Wild Rice Blend tossed with shallots, carrots, garlic, rosemary, damiana, sage, salt, and black pepper, and chef’s vegetables.-Dessert- Negrita chocolate ganache served in an edible tulip cup. Includes house red or white wine, or non-alcoholic colonche prickly pear lemonade.

Dinner Lecture Ticket Purchase and Reservations may be made by calling Tesoro Cultural Center at 303-839-1671 or using the BUY button here: https://www.tesoroculturalcenter.org/historic-lecture-series/