A Journey with Francisco Vázquez de Coronado

In 1540 Francisco Vázquez de Coronado marched from northern Mexico in search of the Seven Cities of Cibola, reputed to hold great treasures. He found Cibola, but discovered that this Zuni village didn’t have the treasures he sought. Coronado kept searching for gold-filled cities but came up empty-handed—though his men became the first Europeans to see the Grand Canyon. By studying maps, quotations, and works of art created in his lifetime, we can learn what the journey was like for Coronado and the Native peoples he encountered. Take an expedition with Coronado and primary sources to learn more about his travels.