A Re-Analysis of the Routes of Coronado and Oñate into the Plains in 1541 and 1601

Abstract

A re-study based upon translations of the original documents is made of the many published routes suggested for Coronado’s and Oñate’s routes into the Plains. The point is made that disagreements among historians stem from the differing initial point of reference, a bridge thrown across a large river. Others have identified this river as the Pecos but Schroeder feels the evidence shows this is the Canadian River. Coronado’s route is then traced across the Plains to the Cimarron River. From this point to Quivira Schroeder is in agreement with other historians that the route was along the Arkansas River. He also agrees with Wedel’s archaeological location of Quivira as being in the Rice-McPherson County area of Kansas. The separate routes of Coronado’s army and party are then traced back to the Pecos Pueblo along what Schroeder deduces to have been more or less a straight line across the Oklahoma-Texas Panhandles.Oñte’s later trip into the Plains is compared with Coronado’s. Considered in some detail are the intervening location of the Apachean and Plains Caddoan groups in relation to each other as suggested by the statements of the various chroniclers. The conclusion is reached that Oñate’s Quivira was located farther south than that visited by Coronado. Schroeder feels that Wedel’s archaeological work supports this view and concludes that Oñate’s Quivira extended slightly farther south along the Chicaskia River near Ponca City, Oklahoma.

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