USA HISTORY

Detailed explanation-1: -Did you know? A string of Indian settlements built near what is now west-central New Mexico (near the Arizona border) by the Zuni Pueblo tribes inspired tales of the Seven Golden Cities of Cíbola, the mythic empire of riches that Francisco Vázquez de Coronado was seeking in his expedition of 1540-42.

Detailed explanation-2: -From their base at Zuni, in hopes of redeeming the expedition, Coronado sent out scouting parties to investigate and hopefully find the illusive gold that had sent them into new unexplored lands.

Detailed explanation-3: -Instead of finding the legendary cities, though, Coronado encountered only Indian settlements-including the Zuni Pueblos, which originally had inspired the false legend-even though he explored as far north as modern Kansas.

Detailed explanation-4: -Francisco Vázquez de Coronado, (born c. 1510, Salamanca, Spain-died September 22, 1554, Mexico), Spanish explorer of the North American Southwest whose expeditions resulted in the discovery of many physical landmarks, including the Grand Canyon, but who failed to find the treasure-laden cities he sought.

Detailed explanation-5: -Seven Cities of Cibola | National Geographic. An 1898 painting by Frederic Remington portrays Spanish explorer Francisco Vazquez de Coronado on his ill-fated quest in 1541 to find the fabled Seven Cities of Cibola.