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Oct 12, 1492
Columbus
Began Uropean exploration in the Amaricas. -
Jun 2, 1519
Pineda
Pineda maps the coastline from present day Florida to present day Texas. -
Aug 30, 1528
Hernan Cortes
Cortes lands in present-day Mexico in 1519. Two years later he conquered the Aztec Empire. They tore down the Aztec capital, Tenochtitlan and plundered the city's treasure. He never entered Texas! -
Jul 26, 1540
Coronado
Searched for the 7 cities of gold. Found nothing, and reported the Texas panhandle held nothing of value. -
Nov 7, 1540
Cabeza de Vaca
Cabeza de Vaca and three men survive the Narvaez expedition by being shipwrecked on Galvestine Island. They are captured by Indians and held prisoner for many years. -
Feb 26, 1542
Estevanicio
First black man in America. Agreed to take an expedition in search of the 7 cities of gold. This is not one of the 6 explorers I want on your timeline. -
Juan de Onate
Claimed the Rio Grande valley for Spain. -
Mission Corpus Christi de la Ysleta
Is located along the Rio Grande, just east of present-day El Paso. The mission was built among the Tigua people in 1682. Shortly after the mission was built, 21 Spanish families moved to the area to meet the spiritual needs of the Tigua people. -
Moscoso
Took over the de Soto expedition and led men into east Texas. He found petroleum, but did not know what its value was at the time. Turned around and backtracked home. -
Robert la Salle
Built Fort Saint Louis, Garcitas Creek, Matagorda Bay, Texas. -
Mission San Francisco de los Tejas
Was established in May of 1690, and was the first mission founded in east Texas. Spain had learned that La Salle had been in the area and built Fort St. Louis. They feared that even though La Salle’s settlement had failed, France would send another group of settlers to try again. Mission San Francisco de los Tejas was built among the Atakapan people who were more interested in stealing horses than going to church. The mission site was located just west of the Neches River. -
Mission Santisimo Nombre de Maria
Was the second mission founded in east Texas along the Neches River around August 1690. This mission was completely destroyed by flooding from the Neches River. It was located just North and East of Mission San Francisco de los Tejas. -
Mission San Jose y San Miguel de Aguayo
Was the second and largest in a chain of five missions established along the San Antonio River on February 23, 1720. The mission had a difficult beginning, but soon the 300 Indians who lived there became successful farmers and ranchers. The Indians helped dig 15 miles of irrigation ditches to bring water to the farms of the five San Antonio missions. -
Mission Nuestra Senora del Espíritu Santo de Zuniga
was established on April 10, 1722, along the Matagorda Bay of the Guadalupe River. The mission was built to serve the Karankawa indians and to reinforce the Spanish presence in the area to help keep the French out of Texas. The mission and the presidio that was built nearby became known as La Bahia Mission, and is one of the oldest and most successful missions in Texas. -
Mission San Antonio de Valero
Was the first in a chain of five missions established near San Antonio on May 1, 1718. The mission was located on the east bank of the San Antonio River. During the 1730s and 1740s, the mission suffered from repeated attacks by the hostile Apache indians.