Topics in Kansas History: Exploration

Exploration of the Great Plains began with the earliest inhabitants to the place we now call Kansas. Francisco Vásquez de Coronado and his team were among the first of the European explorers to visit the plains. The goal of the early Spanish explorers was to discover riches north of Mexico. Coronado's expedition to discover gold led him to the area in 1541. read more

Find resources on Exploration:

• Lewis and Clark Bicentennial Commemoration
• Lewis and Clark Journal Entries in Kansas
• Lewis and Clark Journal Bicentennial Commission
• Lewis and Clark in Kansas Website

Letters, documents, objects, and photographs

• Kit Carson's hatchet
• Osa and Martin Johnson's barong
• "Coronado" sword

Bibliographies, finding aids, and guides to the collections

• William Clark papers

Museum Store

• Lewis and Clark gifts
• Lewis and Clark books

Kansas Heritage, our popular history magazine

• "Going For the Gold," Spring 2000

Kansas Kaleidoscope, our children's magazine

• "Kidmapped!" August/September 2001
• "Lewis and Clark Continue the Journey," October/November 2000
• "Lewis and Clark in Kansas," Special 2003
• "The Mexican History of Kansas," August/September 2002

• Lewis and Clark in Kansas: "A High Butifull Prarie"

Teaching Materials

• Classroom Materials: Explorers
• Field Trips: Explorers

Find other Exploration topics.