Here Come the Conquistadors

Early in the 16th century, the Spanish were first on the American scene.  Following Columbus' landfall, they overran the Caribbean islands.  In those days the islands served as a training ground for conquistadors - minor noblemen who lived by their swords.  These conquistadors went from Florida to the Southwest where they planted the Spanish flag and the cross of the church.

The first of these was Juan Ponce de Leon in 1513.  He was looking for a mythical land full of gold with a
magical spring where the water restored one's youth.  (Having personally drank from this "Fountain of Youth in St. Augustine, I can assure you it doesn't work, nor is it very tasty!)  Although de Leon discovered Florida, he found neither gold nor the age-defying water.  He was killed by Indians in 1521.

Hernando de Soto, a wealthy nobleman, came in 1540 only to wader for 3 years in western Florida, continuously fighting Indians, before heading west.  He died in 1542 and is buried next to the river he did discover - the Mississippi. 

Francisco Vasquez de Coronado started northward from Mexico in 1539 seeking the legendary Seven Cities of Cibola whose streets were supposedly paved with gold.  All he found were the mud walled pueblos of the Zuni Indians.  He wandered as far as Kansas before returning to Mexico in 1542.

Next time...Major changes in Native America living
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Today in Pioneer History:  On July 27, 1806,  Meriwether Lewis shoots an Indian in the stomach while attempting to stop a band of young Blackfoot Indians from stealing his horses, thus insuring Blackfoot's hostility to the white man.