Explorer Álvar Núñez Cabeza de Vaca spent eight years in the Gulf region of present-day Texas and was treasurer to the Spanish expedition under de Narváez.
-1490
Hernán Cortés, marqués del Valle de Oaxaca, was a Spanish conquistador who overthrew the Aztec empire and won Mexico for the crown of Spain.
1485-1547
1485-1541
The expedition team of Francisco Vázquez de Coronado discovered the Grand Canyon and many other famous landmarks.
1510-1554
1474-1566
While searching for the mythical fountain of youth, Juan Ponce de León founded the oldest settlement in Puerto Rico and discovered Florida.
1460-1521
Conquistador Juan de Oñate established the colony of New Mexico for Spain. During his governorship, he vainly sought the mythical riches of North America.
1550-1630
Hernando de Soto was a Spanish explorer and conquistador who participated in the conquests of Central America and Peru and discovered the Mississippi River.
1500-1542
Explorer and conquistador Vasco Núñez de Balboa became the first European to see the Pacific Ocean.
1475-1519
Spanish explorer and conquistador Francisco Pizarro helped Vasco Núñez de Balboa discover the Pacific Ocean, and after conquering Peru, founded its capital city, Lima.
1476-1541
1502-1548
1465-1524
America was named after Amerigo Vespucci, a Florentine navigator and explorer who played a prominent role in exploring the New World.
1454-1512