Francisco Coronado opened the southwestern portion of North America to Spanish colonization and settlement. Born in Spain into a prominent family, de Coronado first sailed to the New World in 1535, arriving in Mexico City. He was appointed as governor of the mining areas in northwestern Mexico in 1538. In attempts to discover the riches of the New World for Spain, he led an exploration in search of the Seven Cities of Cíbola and Quivira and journeyed through territory in present-day Arizona, Texas, New Mexico, Oklahoma, and Kansas in 1540-42.
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Francisco Vasquez de Coronado: Explorer and Conquistador - EnchantedLearning
Francisco Vazquez de Coronado (DesertUSA)