Pike’s Stockade, CO 2026
Volunteer to preserve a site significant to Colorado’s exploration story
PROJECT PARTNER: History Colorado
SESSION DATES: September 8-13
CAPACITY PER SESSION: 5 Volunteers (Volunteers will be working alongside members from a Youth Conservation Corp)
PROJECT SUPERVISORS: Sarah Mees & Steve Harris!
ASSISTANT PROJECT SUPERVISOR: Marissa Hoffman!
CREW LEADER: Noah Williford!
Project Site Description & History
Travel with us to the San Luis Valley as we step back in time to preserve a relic of exploration significant to Colorado’s heritage.
Between 1806 to 1807, explorer Zebulon Pike embarked on a expedition to determine the southern boundary of the Louisiana Purchase. According to HistoryColorado.org, in the early 1800s, President Thomas Jefferson commissioned several expeditions to explore the newly acquired Louisiana Territory. Zebulon Pike led one of these expeditions into what is now Colorado. His expedition led Saint Louis in July 1806, and reached the Rocky Mountains by early winter.
Upon crossing the Sangre de Cristo Range, Pike and his crew constructed a fort. According to HistoryColorado.org, Pike’s team constructed a fortified wooden structure out of logs and timbers, which featured a moat, sharpened spikes along the outside, and only a foxhole for an entrance. The source goes on to state that the primary purpose of this structure was to serve as a fortress to shield the group from attacks by Indigenous and Spanish groups. It was here that Pike raised the American flag on Spanish territory, an action that would soon prove to have dire consequences. As noted by HistoryColorado.org, Pike’s crew would eventually be arrested for trespassing into Spanish territory. They were eventually taken to Mexico to be held accountable for their actions.
During the 1960’s, the Colorado Historical Society used Pike’s journals and other historical documents to reconstruct the structure. While the reconstructed stockade is located about half a mile away from the original site, the replica is a true testament to the exploratory spirit that shaped early American understanding of the Southwest. We hope you’ll join us as we work to preserve this site associated with early exploration within the state of Colorado.
Location and Logistics
SESSION DATES: September 9-13
Please plan to arrive at the campsite no earlier than 5pm and no later than 7pm on the first day of your session.
LOCATION: About 3 hours south of Colorado Springs, CO!
MAP to PIKE’S STOCKADE
ACCESS: 
Tent campers, car campers, truck campers, and campervans are welcome. Dogs are allowed at this location but must be leashed and cleaned up after.
WEATHER: Anticipate highs in the 70s and lows in the 30s. Weather conditions may be rainy, cloudy, or sunny. Volunteers are responsible for checking weather conditions before their session begins, and packing appropriately.
ABOUT VOLUNTEERING: HistoriCorps projects are free for volunteers! HistoriCorps will provide all meals, tools, training, equipment, and a campsite. Volunteers are responsible for their own transportation to the campsite, sleeping equipment, work gloves, clothes and boots, and other personal gear.
Scope of Work
SCOPE OF WORK DIFFICULTY: 
HistoriCorps is committed to educating and training volunteers in preservation skills, with an overarching mission of inspiring a preservation ethic in all those involved. Learning and working alongside expert HistoriCorps field staff and other volunteers while applying the traditional skills necessary to restore the Pike’s Stockade, you will assist with the following tasks:
- Install walers and separate undamaged wall logs at damaged corners to allow for the removal of damaged logs.
- Remove and preserve top logs of the west wall to delay further deterioration of the structure.
- Using salvaged logs as a template to cut and notch additional logs for work purposes.
- Recreate tapered crowns and gun loops to match existing the existing design of the building and install new logs.
If time allows:
- Recreate other corner extensions to match existing building conditions.
- In consultation with partner, replace or repair other logs as necessary.
Please note: Tasks vary by day and by week, depending on a variety of factors including: weather, project priorities, previous groups’ work, and more. Though it is likely you will get to learn and practice most or all of the above tasks, it is not guaranteed. The higher percentage of the scope a particular task is, the more likely you will get to practice it.
Sign Up!
We’re thrilled this project has inspired you to volunteer!
CLICK HERE TO REGISTER!
(Currently only available for HistoriClub Members – Open Registration will be available Monday, July 27th at 12:00pm MST!)
Visit our Job Calendar to see how many spaces are available!
*All registrations submitted to projects at capacity will be automatically added to our waitlist.*
CANCELLATIONS effect our ability to complete projects. Please register only if you are certain about your ability to participate.
You will know your registration was successful when you receive a confirmation email. Contact volunteer@historicorps.org for assistance.
HistoriCorps does not charge for its volunteering projects. HistoriCorps relies on donations to continue engaging volunteers to save significant historical sites across America for generations to come. Your donation of any amount will make an incredible difference! Increase your impact – make a generous gift today.
Volunteer Logistics, Policies, and Advice
We’re so glad you’re interested in joining this project! If you’re new to our community, review the Volunteer FAQ first! Please note the following logistics and policies:
- Volunteering with HistoriCorps is free! We will provide all meals, tools, training, equipment, and a campsite or shared indoor lodging. Dinner is not provided on the first night.
- Volunteers are responsible for bringing their own gear, work gloves, sturdy work clothes and boots, and appropriate sleeping equipment. Check the average temperatures before you start packing – the nights and mornings may be colder than you anticipate! Then, read this advice about how to stay warm when tent camping in colder places.
- Campsite accessibility varies by project. Some projects can accommodate tents only; others can accommodate small RVs. Please review the project site description above for more information, and if you’re still not sure, email volunteer@historicorps.org for help.
- If this project does not offer showers, you might want to consider bringing a solar shower or research other methods to clean up after the work day.
- Volunteer crew sizes generally range from 4-8 volunteers, with two HistoriCorps staff that lead and train volunteers in the work.
- Safety is one of HistoriCorps’ top priorities, and volunteers can contribute to a safe working environment by ensuring their physical fitness is adequate for the work. See above for this project’s scope of work and difficulty level. Please, call us if you are not quite sure if a project is a good fit for your skills or fitness level. We may be able to suggest a project more suitable and enjoyable for you.
- Hard hats, eye protection, ear protection, gloves are standard personal protection equipment (PPE) required on all projects. Hard hats must be worn at all times on the project site, unless working in a designated safe space. Field staff will train volunteers on correct use of PPE.
- Dogs are generally allowed to accompany their humans in project campsites (actually, we love having dogs join us around the campfire!). Dogs are not permitted on the job site for everyone's safety. HOWEVER: HistoriCorps also follows the rules and regulations of our project partner. If the project partner does not permit dogs onsite then HistoriCorps is no exception. Please ask HistoriCorps or the project partner directly if you have any questions about whether Fido is welcome.