De Soto, Coronado, Cabrillo
Explorers of the _Northern Mystery_
By David Lavender
Produced by the
Division of Publications
National Park Service
U.S. Department of the Interior
Washington, D.C.
_About this book_
American history begins not with the English at Jamestown or the
Pilgrims at Plymouth but with Spanish exploration of the border country
from Florida to California in the 16th century. This handbook describes
the expeditions of three intrepid explorers—De Soto, Coronado, and
Cabrillo—their adventures, their encounters with native inhabitants, and
the consequences, good and ill, of their journeys. This little-known
story is related by David Lavender, author of many books on the American
West. His work gives perspective to the several national parks that
commemorate the first Spanish explorations.
National Park Handbooks, compact introductions to the natural and
historical places administered by the National Park Service, are
designed to promote public understanding and enjoyment of the parks.
These handbooks are intended to be informative reading and useful
guides. More than 100 titles are in print. They are sold at parks and by
mail from the Superintendent of Documents, U.S. Government Printing
Office, Washington, D.C. 20402.
_Library of Congress Cataloging-in-Publication Data_
Lavender, David Sievert, 1910-
De Soto, Coronado, Cabrillo: explorers of the northern mystery/by
David Lavender.
p. cm.—(Handbook; 144)
1. United States—Discovery and exploration—Spanish.
2. Soto, Hernando, de, ca. 1500-1542.
3. Coronado, Francisco Vásques de, 1510-1554.
4. Cabrillo, Juan Rodrígues, d. 1543.
5. Explorers—United States—History—16th century.
I. Title.
II. Series: Handbook (United States. National Park Service.
Division of Publications); 144
E123.L24 1992 973.1—dc20 91-47633
CIP 1992
Prologue 5
The Spanish Entradas 10
_David Lavender_
The Ways of the Conquerors 13
The Wanderers 21
Journey into Darkness 37
Where the Fables Ended 55
The Seafarers 85
Epilogue 97
A Guide to Sites 98
De Soto National Memorial 102
Coronado National Memorial 104
Pecos National Historical Park 106
Cabrillo National Monument 108
[Illustration: This 16th-century woodcut, the product of an artist
with a fertile imagination but little information, epitomizes the
contemporary view that European discoverers were bringing
civilization to the grateful natives of the New World.]