Southwest History Timeline
From Cortez to Geronimo, and from Butch Cassidy to Kit
Carson, the history of the American Southwest is the most fascinating of
any region in the United States. With so many colorful characters
and interesting events to learn about, an appreciation of that history
can make your vacation more enjoyable. We've provided this page to
give you a quick timeline of events. We've also put together a suggested
reading list of the best books available on Southwest
history.
Click here to view our southwest history timeline.
Historical
Overview of the Southwest
Prehistory
The first inhabitants of the region, the
Indians, had been in the area thousands of years prior to the arrival of
Europeans. The exact date when humans occupied North America is a
subject of debate. For decades the majority of archaeologists have
held that groups of Paleolithic hunter-gatherers began migrating across
a land bridge that connected Asia and North America during the last Ice
Age about 12,000 years ago.
Discoveries over the last 10-15 years
indicate that occupation of the continent may have occurred 35,000 to
40,000 years ago. The "canoe theory" holds that the
first migration into North America occurred by boat and spread southward
along the coast -- leaving the interior largely unoccupied. This
theory is more in line with traditional Native American
cosmologies. The study of language groups indicates that migration
into North America most likely occurred in three successive waves.
The archeological record--pictographs, petroglyphs, dwellings, and
artifacts--attests to the presence of native populations. Clovis
spear points found in New Mexico and other areas of the Southwest
indicate that hunter-gatherers had penetrated inland by at least 10,500
years ago. Over the next 9,000 year various archaic groups came
and went, following game and moving on during periods of periodic
drought. Agriculture appears to have begun in Mexico and Central
America approximately 8,000 years ago.
By the time Columbus sailed
from Spain, Mexico City had grown to one of the largest and most
advanced cities in the world. Groups based on agriculture began
migrating north into Arizona and New Mexico from Central America around
2,500-2,000 years ago. The Colorado Plateau was sparsely populated
at this time. These agricultural groups developed the cultures now referred to by
archaeologists as the Mimbres, Salado, Mogollon, Sinagua, Hohokam and
Anasazi. The ruins left by these groups, at places like Mesa Verde
and Casa Grande, were probably abandoned due to drought and depleted
soil.
By the time of first European contact in 1540, these earlier
agricultural groups had coalesced into the modern Pueblo tribes that
still exist today; such as the Hopi, Zuni, Acoma, and
Laguna. The niche previously occupied by hunters and gatherers was
now occupied by various Apache, Navajo, Ute, and Paiute clan
groups.
The Navajo and Apache are linguistically rooted in Alaska,
and may not have migrated into the Southwest until about the time of
Columbus. The Navajo and Apache brought with them the sinew-backed
bow, which could shoot farther and more accurately than the weapons used
by the Pueblo, and they frequently used this advantage to raid Pueblo
villages.
European
Contact & Exploration
The first European explorers to enter the Colorado
Plateau were with the expedition led by Francisco Vasquez de Coronado in
1540. Searching for the fabled "seven cities of gold"
Coronado found instead some of the most difficult and forbidding terrain
on Earth.
Coronado's men "discovered" the Grand Canyon,
but they failed to find a way across. Coronado traveled northeast
from Grand Canyon and eventually ended up in what is now Kansas before
deciding to abandon his search for the cites of gold and return south to
Mexico City. His description of their hardships was enough to
discourage others from returning to the Colorado Plateau for 235 years.
The Escalante & Dominquez expedition, led by two Franciscan priests
seeking an overland route from Santa Fe to the newly established
California missions, were the first Europeans to record their travels
through Southern Utah and the Colorado Plateau north of Grand
Canyon. They described the Plateau geography in 1776.
Though
Escalante & Dominquez failed to find the route they were seeking
after more than two years of searching, other Spaniards soon followed,
and by 1800, the Old Spanish Trail was an established route. It somewhat
paralleled present Highway 95 for miles through Southern Utah. Used for
many years by the Spanish, who traded horses for Indian slaves along the
route, it was known also as the Slave Trail.
The first official American exploration came after the Louisiana
Purchase (1803), when a military expedition headed by Zebulon Pike was
sent to explore the new lands in 1806. Pike managed to explore
most of the Arkansas and Platte Rivers, and attempted to climb the peak
that bears his name near Colorado Springs.
Early
American Period to Present
Between 1822 and 1850, trappers, traders, gold
hunters, and adventurers traveled the Old Spanish Road regularly -- the
fur trapping period would give rise to such legendary figures as
Jedediah Smith, Jim Bridger, James Ohio Pattie, Antoine Leroux and Kit
Carson lasted only about 35 years.. In 1844, John C. Fremont found
this to be a "well-defined trail" over which travel was
possible with little difficulty, except for marauding Paiute
Indians. All of the Colorado Plateau remained under Spanish
control until the Mexican-American War in 1848.
Seeking secure routes to the California gold fields, the U.S. government
sent the Sitgreaves Expedition in 1851 and the Whipple Expedition in
1853 to explore the Colorado Plateau. Major Powell successfully
navigated the canyons of the Colorado River from Green River, Wyoming to
Southern California in 1869 and 1871. All of these expeditions
helped open the region to settlement, but it would remain remote and
wild country for decades to come. Butch Cassidy & the Sundance
Kid were among the famous outlaws who found refuge in the rugged canyon
country.
The period from 1900 to 1950 saw a series of boom-bust cycles in timber,
cattle ranching, and mining. It was not until the 1950's, when
modern roads and the age of the automobile made the area accessible to
tourism, that significant visitation began to occur. Various
factors including major federal dam projects, the advent of air
conditioners, and a boom in uranium mining led to increased settlement
in the region during the 1950's and 60's.
SOUTHWEST
Historical Timeline
? -11,500
years ago.
Migrations take place across a land bridge between Asia and North
America during the last Ice Age. The date of 11,500 years before
present has stood for for decades as the most likely for the first humans
occupation of the continent. That date is now in dispute.
Recent discoveries indicate that humans may have occupied North America as
long as 20,000 - 40,000 years ago. Stone tools from the Calico Early
Man site near Barstow, California, may be as much as 200,000 years old.
Southwest History
11,000
years ago
The discovery of Clovis spear points in New Mexico indicates that
humans were definitely in the Southwest by 11,000 years ago. These
people appear to have traveled in small bands, surviving through hunting
and gathering.
8,000 -
6,000
years ago
A major drought in the southwest caused a significant shift in
lifestyle among groups living in the region, increasing their dependence
on plants. This spurred the beginnings of agriculture in central
Mexico, and gave rise to what is known as the "Desert Archaic"
culture. Native Americans would eventually develop plants that now
supply over 60% of the world's food supply -- including corn, squash,
bean, potatoes, tomatoes, and peppers.
1 A.D.
Shoshonean speaking peoples separate from other Uto-Aztecan groups
about the beginning of the Christian era.
1 A.D. - 500
Village life begins in the southwest among ancestral pueblo groups
known as Basketmaker I and Basketmaker II.
800 A.D.
Anasazi groups begin to develop along the San Juan River in
Utah. Anasazi culture eventually spread out over the entire Four
Corners region.
1100 - 1200
Southern Paiutes move into southern Nevada, southwestern Utah, and
northern Arizona.
1276
Anasazi began movement out of Mesa Verde, Chaco Canyon and other
elaborate habitations in the Four Corners. The most recent evidence
indicates this was due primarily to soil depletion.
1300 - 1500
Navajos and Apaches move into what is now Arizona and New Mexico.
1492
Columbus "discovers" America.
1521
Cortez invades Mexico and defeats the Aztec empire.
1536 - 1540
Cabeza de Vaca, Esteban, Marcos de Niza enter the Southwest.
Their reports that the 'Seven Cities of Gold" actually exist lead to
the military expedition of Coronado in 1540. Coronado makes first
contact with the Pueblo villages of Arizona and New Mexico. Some of
Coronado's men are the first Europeans to see the Grand Canyon.
1598
New Mexico is settled by the Spanish.
Onate expedition crosses from Santa Fe to southern
California.
1607
Santa Fe, New Mexico -- the oldest European community west of the
Mississippi -- is founded.
1629
Franciscans establish the first Christian mission at Hopi.
1637
First known conflict between Spanish and Utes. Spaniards under
Luis de Rosas, Governor of New Mexico 1637-41, captured about 80 Utacas
and forced them into labor work-shops in Santa Fe.
1670
First Treaty between Utes and Spaniards.
1680
Pueblo Revolt in New Mexico and Arizona forces the Spanish out for 12
years.
1692
Alliance between Paiutes, Apaches, and Hopis, to counter Spanish
aggression and expansion.
1699
Father Francisco Kino establishes the Mission San Xavier del Bac in
1699. It won't be until 1797 that it will be completed.
1700
Beginnings of raids upon Pueblos and Spanish in New Mexico by Utes,
Apaches, and Comanches often working in concert.
1706
Expedition of Juan de Ulibarri through southeastern Colorado.
1720
Expedition of Pedro de Villasur.
1724
Expedition of Bourgmont.
1730 - 1750
Utes continue raids upon settlements in new Mexico. In 1747, Ute
forays caused the abandonment of the frontier town of Abiquiu. It was
reoccupied in 1748 by the Spaniards.
1746
Spanish defeat a combination of Utes and Comanches near Abiquiu, NM.
1752
Spanish troops establish the first white settlement in Arizona at Tubac.
1760's
Spanish-Ute relations friendly enough to permit Spanish trading
ventures into Ute territory as far north as the Gunnison River.
1765
Juan Maria de Rivera leads first official Spanish expedition into
southwestern Colorado.
1770's
Utes and Navajos at war with the Hopis.
1775
Hugo O'Connor establishes a settlement at Tucson, Arizona.
Second expedition into southwestern Colorado led by
Rivera.
1776
Dominguez-Escalante expedition through Ute territory.
Lands of the Utes mapped by Miera y Pacheco.
1803
The Louisiana Purchase transfers millions of acres from France to the
United States, including most of present day Colorado.
1806
Lt. Zebulon Pike leads a military expedition to explore the southern
portion of the Louisiana Purchase. represents first Anglo-American
intrusion into Ute territory. Pike builds a stockade in the San
Louis Valley (near present day Alamosa, CO) and is later arrested as spies
by Spanish authorities, who claimed that Pike and his men had crossed the
international border into Mexico.
1811 - 1812
Ezekiel Williams was trapping in southwestern Colorado.
1821
Mexico wins independence from Spain. The states of Texas, New
Mexico, Arizona, Nevada and western third of Colorado are included.
1821
Beginning of the Santa Fe trade.
Col. Glenn and Jacob Fowler lead a trapping and trading expedition
into southwestern Colorado.
1824
William Becknell, the "Father of the Santa Fe trade," led a
party of trappers and traders to the Green River and William Huddard led a
party of 14 from Taos to the same area. At about the same time, Kit Carson
and Jason Lee followed an old Spanish trail north and met Antoine Robidoux
at the mouth of the Uinta River in Utah.
1826
James Ohio Pattie passed through the present site of Grand Junction,
Colorado.
1829 - 1830
Opening of the Old Spanish Trail from Santa Fe to San Gabriel,
California.
1832
Bent's Fort established in southeastern Colorado.
1840s
Constant attacks by the Utes on settlements in the Taos Valley and the
area of New Mexico north of Espanola.
1841 - 1842
Charles Fremont (US) explores the far west with Kit Carson as guide.
1844
2nd Fremont expedition passes through Colorado and Utah.
1845
Capote Utes attack the settlement of Ojo Caliente in New Mexico.
1846
Fremont's attempt to cross Colorado in winter ends in disaster at Wolf
Creek Pass.
The Mormon Battalion takes possession of Tucson from Mexico and raises the
American flag.
1847
Salt Lake City, Utah is founded by Mormon settlers led by Brigham
Young.
1848
The United States seizes control of Colorado, Utah, New Mexico,
Northern Arizona, California and Nevada during the Mexican-American War.
1849
Gold is discovered in California, triggering a massive migration
westward.
1851
Settlements by former Mexican citizens began to be made in the San
Luis Valley of Colorado near present day Alamosa.
Sitgreaves expedition makes the first American
reconnaissance along the 35th parallel through northern New Mexico and
Arizona.
1852
The U.S. Government established Fort Massachusetts near Mount Blanca
to protect and control the Utes. Six years later the post was moved six
miles and became Fort Garland.
1853
Kit Carson becomes the Indian Agent at Taos, NM, 1853-59.
Francois Aubry, known as the "Skimmer of the
Plains," drives 50,000 sheep from Santa Fe to San Francisco, making
the round-trip journey in just 43 days.
Whipple expedition explores the 35th parallel through
northern New Mexico and Arizona for a possible transcontinental railroad
route.
1853
Captain Gunnison killed near Sevier Lake in Utah. His expedition
continued under Lt. Beckwith.
1854
The Gadsden Purchase transfers land south of the Gila River from
Mexico to the United States, establishing the final border between the two
countries.
1854 - 1855
Ute War started by an attack on Fort Pueblo. The Utes were mainly
Mouaches under the leadership of Chief Tierra Blanca.
1857
First regular stage line in Arizona, the San Antonio & San Diego Line.
1858
Gold is discovered near Pikes Peak in Colorado.
Denver is established along the Platte River.
1860
Gold is discovered near Silverton, Colorado.
Utes join U.S. troops in campaigns against Navajos.
1861 - 1863
Apache uprisings led by chiefs Mangas Colorado and Cochise explode across
Arizona - a result of the Bascom Affair.
1862
General James Carlton and 3,000 US troops engage Apaches led by
Cochise at the battle of Apache Pass in southeast Arizona.
Western-most battle of the Civil War takes place at
Picacho Pass in southern Arizona between Union and Confederate forces.
1864
Kit Carson defeats the Navajo at their stronghold, Canyon de Chelly.
The Navajo begin the "Long Walk" - a forced march of 300
miles to Ft. Sumner, NM.
US Cavalry under Major John Shivington attack a peaceful
village of Araphoes and Southern Cheyenne at dawn along Sand Creek in
eastern Colorado, killing over 150 Indians. The dead are mostly
women, children and elderly. This event ignites a decade of war on
the Great Plains.
Nevada is admitted to the Union as the 36th state.
1868
Phoenix, Arizona is founded by Jack Swilling.
The Navajo return to their traditional homelands after a
four year exile at Ft. Sumner in New Mexico.
1869
The first transcontinental railroad is officially completed at
Promontory Utah.
Major John Wesley Powell leads the first expedition down
the Colorado River thru Grand Canyon.
1872
Apache Chief Cochise surrenders, dies on the reservation two years
later.
1873
The Utes cede the San Juan Mountain area by terms of the Brunot
Agreement.
1876
Colorado is admitted to the Union as the 38th state.
1877 - 1880
Apache resistance against white settlers led by Victorio.
1877
Ed Schieffelin discovers rich silver deposits in southeast Arizona,
and the frontier town of Tombstone springs up overnight.
1878
The famed "Lincoln County War" erupts in southern New
Mexico. Hostilities last until 1881.
1879
Meeker Massacre near Craig, CO results in cries for the removal of the
Utes from Colorado. This is the last Ute uprising.
1880
Death of Ute Chief Ouray.
1881
The Atlantic & Pacific is completed to Los Angeles, giving the
country a southern transcontinental railroad.
Apache resistance in the Southwest led by Geronimo.
The Denver and Rio Grande Railroad is completed between
Denver and Durango, Colorado.
Pat Garrett kills Billy the Kid near Ft. Sumner, New
Mexico.
Famous gunfight at the OK Corral in Tombstone, Arizona.
1883
Lorenzo Hubbell establishes a trading post on the Navajo reservation
in northeastern Arizona.
1885
Last great herd of buffalo exterminated on the Great Plains.
1886
Geronimo surrenders at Skeleton Canyon in New Mexico, ending Indian
wars in the American Southwest.
1887
The "Pleasant Valley War" (aka the Graham-Tewksbury feud)
begins south of Holbrook, Arizona. Hostilities continue until 1892.
1888
Utes agree to move to San Juan County, Utah. Congress fails to ratify
agreement.
1889
The capitol of Arizona is moved from Prescott to Phoenix.
Butch Cassidy begins his life of crime by robbing a bank
in Telluride, Colorado.
1892
Stagecoach service between Flagstaff and Grand Canyon begins
1896
Utah is admitted to the Union as the 45th state.
1900
Butch Cassidy and the Sundance Kid rob their last bank in Winnemucca,
Nevada.
1901
Butch Cassidy and the Sundance Kid rob their last train near Wagner,
Montana. They flee to South America in 1902.
1906
A political split between rival factions results in the creation of
new Hopi village of Hotevilla.
1909
Apache leader Geronimo dies in Oklahoma.
1912
New Mexico is admitted to the Union as the 47th state.
Arizona admitted to the Union as the 48th state.
1922
Representatives of the seven Colorado River Basin States sign the
Colorado River Compact in Santa Fe, New Mexico.
1924
American Indians granted US citizenship.
1926
Congress commissions construction of Route 66 from Chicago to Los
Angeles.
1931
Distribution of rations from Federal Government stopped.
1934
Passage of the Indian Reorganization Act by Congress (commonly called
the Wheeler-Howard Act).
1935
Hoover Dam is completed across the Colorado River, creating Lake
Meade.
1937
Route 66, also known as the "Mother Road," was completely
paved from end to end. This historic highway was a precursor to the
modern Interstate system, and carried millions of immigrants to California
during the Dust Bowl and Great Depression.
1945
The first atomic bomb is detonated near Alamagordo, New Mexico.
After the end of World War II there is a series of nuclear tests in
Nevada.
1948
Arizona Indians are granted the right to vote
1950's
Construction is begun on the Interstate Highway system, greatly
increasing tourism in the Southwest.
1963
Glen Canyon Dam is completed across the Colorado River, creating Lake
Powell.
1973
Construction begins on the Central Arizona Project to bring Colorado
River water to Tucson. The massive canal was substantially completed
in 1993.
2002
Construction begins on the Animas-La Plata Project in Durango --
probably the last major water project that will be undertaken in the West.
This page last updated:
05/07/06
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