Palmer Lake Historical Society presents John Anderson: "Anza vs. Cuerno Verde, the 1779 Comanche Campaign"

Palmer Lake Historical Society is Honored to Present John Anderson: “Anza vs. Cuerno Verde, the 1779 Comanche Campaign”   

This event is part of the America 250 / Colorado 150 celebration in 2026. Commemorating Colorado’s shared history, honoring our unique people, cultures, and communities.

The Palmer Lake Historical Society is honored to present John Wesley Anderson who will speak about Anza vs. Cuerno Verde, the 1779 Comanche Campaign. This is a story about two fearless men, Spanish Governor Juan Bautista de Anza and the Comanche Warchief Cuerno Verde (Green Horn), both determined to protect their people and preserve their cultural way of life.

While the legacy of Juan Bautista de Anza is well established in much of the American Southwest, his influence during the 18th Century remains relatively unknown across today’s Northern New Mexico and Southern Colorado.

To punish the Comanche, Governor Anza left Santa Fe with a combined force of 600 mounted soldiers, who were joined enroute by 200 Ute and Jicarilla Apache. They traveled north around Sierra del Almagre (Pikes Peak), down the Ute Pass, and attacked the Comanche base camp on  August 31, 1779, near present-day Colorado Springs, Colorado.

John has a MBA, and is a TEDx speaker, published author and storyteller. He is retired from a 30-year law enforcement career; including 22 years with the Colorado Springs Police Department and eight years serving as the elected Sheriff for El Paso County, Colorado.

John has a love of history, writing and the arts and has published eight books. He was awarded the PPLD Golden Quill Award in 2021. John will bring several copies of his books for sale and author signings, or copies may be purchased online.

Please join us for this amazing program and bring a friend or two. Stay afterwards for light refreshments. FREE and open to the public. We hope to see you there!

The Palmer Lake Historical Society is an educational 501 (c)(3) nonprofit organization serving the Palmer Divide area since 1956. FREE Tri-Lakes Historical Calendars will be available. Help celebrate Colorado’s 150 Anniversary..