Inspired by Spanish explorer Marcos de Niza’s description of the Seven Cities of Cibola (present day Arizona), Spanish explorer Francisco Vázquez de Coronado (c.1510-1554) led the largest expedition at the time through the American Southwest in 1540. Assuming that great wealth would be found, Coronado led two surprisingly wide-ranging expeditions, extending to the northeast as far as Kansas. Although he found no great wealth, Coronado learned about the Indians and the topography of North America including the discovery of the Grand Canyon.
