Pike's expedition generated an economic interest among frontier businessmen in the U.S. that would lead to the establishment of the Santa Fe Trail and a subsequent westward expansion into Texas and the Southwest by the United States.

Because of Pike’s importance in the eventual establishment of the Santa Fe Trail, the Santa Fe Trail Association has established a five-member Zebulon M. Pike Expedition Bicentennial Commission to oversee planning and scheduling of events during 2006 and 2007.

The members of The Pike Commission are:

* Clive G. Siegle, Dallas, TX, Executive Director
* Hal Jackson, Placitas, NM, Committee Chairman
* John M. Murphy, Colorado Springs, CO
* Ramon Powers, Topeka, KS
* Craig Crease, Shawnee, KS
* Leo E. Oliva, Woodston, KS

The Pike Commission is seeking cooperation from the U. S. Congress, the Mexican and Spanish governments, the National Park Service, historical societies in the seven states where Pike traveled (Missouri, Kansas, Nebraska, Colorado, New Mexico, Texas, and Louisiana) as well as the Mexican State of Chihuahua, and local communities, organizations, and schools along the entire route of the expedition.

In addition, the Commission plans to devote attention to the expedition of Spanish troops led by Facundo Melgares, who crossed the plains looking for Pike a few weeks before Pike arrived on the scene, and went to the same Pawnee village in southern Nebraska that Pike later visited.