Near Floydada in Floyd County, Texas — The American South (West South Central)
Coronado in Blanco Canyon
Photographed By Richard Denney, June 1, 2007
1. Coronado in Blanco Canyon Marker
Inscription.
Coronado in Blanco Canyon. . From 1540 to 1542, Francisco Vazquez de Coronado led the first organized European exploration of the southwest in search of the fabled "cities of gold." With a company of more than a thousand men and women and thousands of horses and mules, cattle and sheep, Coronado trekked north from Culiacan, Mexico, through land that became Arizona, New Mexico, Texas, Oklahoma and Kansas. , The exact route along which their Indian guides led the Spaniards between Pecos Pueblo in New Mexico and the Arkansas River in Kansas has long been a subject of debate among historians. Surviving documents are brief, vague and occasionally contradictory. Twice in the spring of 1541, the company camped long enough to have created detectable archeological evidence; the first time, they chose the site of a Teya Indian camp. A hailstorm struck, destroying most, if not all, of their pottery. They occupied a second camp for two weeks in a canyon that was described as being "a league wide." , In the 1950s and 1960s, two pieces of chain mail were discovered by local ranchers in and near Blanco Canyon. Since 1993, a series of other objects, both European and from other parts of the southwest, have been found in the same area. They include projectile points similar to those used on crossbow arrows. Crossbows were obsolete after this expedition and are unlikely to have been used by any other group of significant size. In the late 1990s, archeologists began the task of confirming this area as the location of one of Coronado's camps. Evidence and artifacts recovered supported the theory that Coronado passed through Blanco Canyon.
From 1540 to 1542, Francisco
Vazquez de Coronado led the first
organized European exploration of
the southwest in search of the
fabled "cities of gold." With a
company of more than a thousand
men and women and thousands of
horses and mules, cattle and
sheep, Coronado trekked north
from Culiacan, Mexico, through
land that became Arizona, New
Mexico, Texas, Oklahoma and
Kansas. The exact route along
which their Indian guides led the
Spaniards between Pecos Pueblo in
New Mexico and the Arkansas River
in Kansas has long been a subject
of debate among historians.
Surviving documents are brief,
vague and occasionally
contradictory. Twice in the
spring of 1541, the company
camped long enough to have
created detectable archeological
evidence; the first time, they
chose the site of a Teya Indian
camp. A hailstorm struck,
destroying most, if not all, of
their pottery. They occupied a
second camp for two weeks in a
canyon that was described as
being "a league wide." In the
1950s and 1960s, two pieces of
chain mail were discovered by
local ranchers in and near Blanco
Canyon. Since 1993, a series of
other objects, both European and
from other parts of the
southwest, have been found in the
same
Click or scan to see this page online
area. They include
projectile points similar to
those used on crossbow arrows.
Crossbows were obsolete after
this expedition and are unlikely
to have been used by any other
group of significant size. In the
late 1990s, archeologists began
the task of confirming this area
as the location of one of
Coronado's camps. Evidence and
artifacts recovered supported the
theory that Coronado passed
through Blanco Canyon.
Erected 2000 by Texas Historical Commission. (Marker Number 12355.)
Location. 33° 53.526′ N, 101° 21.6′ W. Marker is near Floydada, Texas, in Floyd County. Marker is on US 62, on the left when traveling south. US-62, roadside park, 8 miles S.
of Floydada. Touch for map. Marker is in this post office area: Floydada TX 79235, United States of America. Touch for directions.
Looking south down US 62. Picnic tables of roadside park where marker is located are visible through trees, left of road. Sign pointing to historical marker visible across road (right).
Photographed By Richard Denney
4. Panorama of Blanco Canyon
Roadside park picnic tables visible to right.
Photographed By Richard Denney
5. Panorama of Blanco Canyon
Driving into the canyon off the caprock on US 62
Credits. This page was last revised on July 1, 2017. It was originally submitted on December 8, 2009, by Richard Denney of Austin, Texas. This page has been viewed 4,263 times since then and 130 times this year. Photos:1. submitted on December 8, 2009, by Richard Denney of Austin, Texas. 2. submitted on June 28, 2017, by Bill Kirchner of Tucson, Arizona. 3, 4, 5. submitted on December 8, 2009, by Richard Denney of Austin, Texas. • Bill Pfingsten was the editor who published this page.