Coronado
National Memorial is the only unit in the National Park System that
commemorates the Francisco Vásquez de Coronado Expedition of 1540-1542.
When reporting to Congress in 1940 on the establishment of the Memorial,
the Committee on Public Lands and Surveys noted that: “Coronado’s
expedition was one of the outstanding achievements of a period marked by
notable explorations. It made known the vast extent and the nature of
the country that lay north of central Mexico, and from the time of
Coronado, Spaniards never lost interest in the country. In no small
measure their subsequent occupation of it was due to the curiosity so
created.”The creation of the Memorial was not to
protect any tangible artifacts related to the expedition, but
rather to provide visitors with an opportunity to reflect upon
the impact the Coronado Entrada had in shaping the history,
culture, and environment of the southwestern United States and
its lasting ties to Mexico and Spain. The Memorial has two sister parks
in Mexico.
The location was chosen for the panoramic
views of the US-Mexico border and the San Pedro River Valley,
the route believed to have been taken by Coronado. It was hoped
that this proximity to the border would strengthen bi-national
amity and the bonds, both geographical and cultural, which
continue to link the two countries.
The Memorial, located near the center of
the Sky Island bioregion (the juncture of four major biogeographic provinces: Madrean, Sonoran, Chihuahuan, and
Southern Rockies/Mogollon), preserves a rich
biological and
geological diversity. Visitors are able to enjoy recreational
opportunities that foster a better understanding and
appreciation of the natural and human history of the area.
