Early Spanish Exploration

In the autumn of 1540, Coronado's conquistadores entered the Rio Grande valley from the north after visiting the Zuni pueblo of Hawikku, south of modern-day Gallup, and the Tiguex pueblos near Bernalillo and Albuquerque. Early records indicate that Coronado's passing heavily impacted the lives of the native peoples of this region. In 1581, the Chamuscado-Rodriguez expedition sought to convert the native peoples of the region to Christianity, but many fled before them, fearing more harsh treatment like that they had suffered at the hands of Coronado. Discouraged and running dangerously low on supplies, the expedition was about to turn back when it encountered friendly Piro-speaking Pueblo people who supplied food and were more open to religious overtures. The relatively harmonious relationship that developed between the Spanish and Piro peoples over the next century paved the way for later Spanish exploratory parties led by Antonio de Espejo, Castaño de Sosa, and others. They too received support and experienced minimal resistance to the establishment of missions, visitas, and parajes, including one located a few miles south of Fort Craig. By the 1600s, thousands of settlers and explorers were following the 1,200-mile-long El Camino Real de Tierra Adentro along the Rio Grande. Many rested in this area before setting out over the 90 miles of open desert known as the Jornada del Muerto, or "journey of death." In summer, travelers suffered from burning heat and a lack of water, while in winter frigid winds blew relentlessly. At any time of year, there was also the danger of unfriendly encounters with Mescalero, Chiricahua, and Gila Apache peoples who lived in the surrounding hills. Even so, the Camino Real continued to be the principal commercial and travel route through New Mexico until the beginning of the twentieth century.

New Mexico · United States