Primary Source Explorers

In 1666 Sieur de La Salle left France and sailed across the Atlantic Ocean to New France, a colony in present-day Canada. He wanted to explore new lands and even sail to China. On La Salle's most famous expedition, he traveled down the Mississippi River and claimed the Louisiana Territory for France. How do we know about La Salle's journeys and the native peoples he encountered along the way? Through letters, maps, and images recorded by La Salle and his companions! Travel with La Salle across oceans and beyond and explore primary sources to learn more.

In 1540 Francisco Vzquez de Coronado marched from northern Mexico in search of the Seven Cities of Cibola, reputed to hold great treasures. He found Cibola, but discovered that this Zuni village didn't have the treasures he sought. Coronado kept searching for gold-filled cities but came up empty-handed though his men became the first Europeans to see the Grand Canyon. By studying maps, quotations, and works of art created in his lifetime, we can learn what the journey was like for Coronado and the Native peoples he encountered. Take an expedition with Coronado and primary sources to learn more about his travels.

In 1492 Christopher Columbus sailed west from Europe and landed on a Caribbean island in what he thought was India. Over the next twelve years, Columbus made several voyages to the New World, seeking gold and power and bringing other Europeans to start colonies. How can we know what the journey was like for Columbus, his shipmates, and the Taino people he met in the Caribbean? We can study maps and tools Columbus used, excerpts from his journal, and carvings and jewelry created by the Taino. Explore primary sources from his time to learn more about his famous journey.