Bernalillo in Sandoval County, New Mexico — The American Mountains (Southwest)
Coronado's Expedition
Photographed by James Hulse, April 9, 2025
1. Coronado's Expedition Marker
In spite of Coronado's accomplishments of exploring and opening up areas unknown to the European, the expedition was considered a failure. For they had not found the fabled cities of gold, only mud villages.Coronado suffered an injury from a fall from his horse in this vicinity from which he would never completely recover. When he returned to Mexico he found that his influence with the Spanish court had diminished. He was brought to trial for mismanagement of the army and for cruelties inflicted upon the native peoples. Coronado was exonerated of the charges but his significant contributions to the European settlement of the New World went unrecognized during his lifetime.
Pese a que Coronado exploró y abrió áreas desconocidas a los europeos, la expedición se consideró un fracaso. No encontró las fabulosas ciudades de oro, solamente aldeas de lodo. Coronado sufrió una herida en una caída de su caballo, cerca de aquí, herida de la que nunca se recuperó. Cuando regresó a Mexico, se encontró con que su influencia en la Corte española había decaído. Fué sometido a Juicio por la mala administración
this page online
Topics. This historical marker is listed in these topic lists: Anthropology & Archaeology • Indigenous Peoples and Communities • Settlements & Settlers.
Location. 35° 19.817′ N, 106° 33.391′ W. Marker is in Bernalillo, New Mexico, in Sandoval County. It is on Kuaua Road 5 miles east of U.S. 550. The marker is located in the Kuaua Ruins (Coronado Historic Site). Touch for map. Marker is at or near this postal address: 485 Kuaua Rd, Bernalillo NM 87004, United States of America. Touch for directions.
Regionally, this marker is in the San Juan Basin and in Greater Albuquerque. It is also in the American Southwest and at the Four Corners. Globally, it is in North America, the Western Hemisphere, the Western World, and the Anglosphere. Historically, it finds itself in what was once New Spain and also the Republic of Texas.
Other nearby markers. At least 8 other markers are within walking distance of this marker: Successful Agriculture (here, next to this marker); Another Smaller Square Kiva at Kuaua (a few steps from this marker); They are all well built with straight, well-squared walls (within shouting distance of this marker); Kuaua Ruins (within shouting distance of this marker); Archaeological excavations / Excavaciones arqueológicas (within shouting distance of this marker); The Siege of Kuaua (within shouting distance of this marker); El Pueblo de Kuaua / Kuaua Pueblo
Photographed by James Hulse, April 9, 2025
2. Coronado's Expedition Marker (right side)
More about this marker. There is a small fee to visit the Kuaua Ruins (Coronado Historic Site).
Also see . . .
1. Coronado Historic Site. New Mexico Historic Sites
Coronado Historic Site and the ancient Kuaua Pueblo are located just minutes north of Albuquerque (off of I-25, Exit 242) in Bernalillo. In 1540, Francisco Vásquez de Coronado—with 500 soldiers and 2,000 Indigenous allies from New Spain—entered the Rio Grande valley somewhere near this site. Coronado was searching for the fabled Seven Cities of Gold.(Submitted on May 26, 2025, by James Hulse of Medina, Texas.)
2. Francisco Vázquez de Coronado. Wikipedia
Francisco Vázquez de Coronado; 1510 – 22 September 1554) was a Spanish conquistador and explorer who led a large expedition from what is now Mexico to present-day Kansas through parts of the southwestern United States between 1540 and 1542. Vázquez de Coronado had hoped to reach the Cities of Cíbola, often referred to now as the mythical Seven Cities of(Submitted on May 27, 2025, by James Hulse of Medina, Texas.)Gold. His expedition marked the first European sightings of the Grand Canyon and the Colorado River, among other landmarks. His name is often Anglicized as Vasquez de Coronado or just Coronado.Photographed by James Hulse, April 9, 20253. Coronado's Expedition MarkerThe Rio Grande River and Sandia Mountains
Credits. This page was last revised on May 27, 2025. It was originally submitted on May 26, 2025, by James Hulse of Medina, Texas. This page has been viewed 105 times since then and 14 times this year. Photos: 1, 2, 3. submitted on May 27, 2025, by James Hulse of Medina, Texas.
