In the summer of 1846, capitalizing on the political unrest in Mexico, the Army of the West marched through Santa Fe to invade Mexico's Western territories. This movement ignited “Manifest Destiny’s” clash with the Navajo stewards of the vast desert wilderness that now is New Mexico, California, Colorado, Arizona and parts of Utah. Our gripping core book, “Blood and Thunder”, by Hampton Sides, centers on Kit Carson—trapper, scout, and soldier whose respect for Native cultures contrasted with his role in brutal campaigns. We will explore his life, the decades-long U.S.-Navajo battles, and how 19th-century conquests echo in today's views of frontier history and Indigenous rights.

In-Person