The First to Blaze the Santa Fe Trail

The Santa Fe Trail is known today as being a trade route to the southwest blazed by traders from Missouri in 1821. However, the Santa Fe Trail had already existed for hundreds of years, just in a much undefined way. The pathways were first used by the Native Americans to facilitate the same purposes: commerce and trade. Trade had been happening in the Pecos area for centuries as tribes came from all over the region, from the plains to the pueblos, to trade precious jewels, food, and tools. While these early pathways had been used for centuries, it became the route that the Spaniards used in 1540. 

In 1540, Francisco Vasquez de Coronado, along with 300 Spanish soldiers, set out on a route from northwestern Mexico to discover the Seven Cities of Cibola. Cibola was rumored to be a city of gold and the Spanish knew that gold would also lead to glory. 

As they rode along, they stopped at various places including that of Pecos Pueblo, at the time called Cicuye by the Spaniards. But they were pushed farther and farther, spurred only by the rumors of golden cities. Finally, in a region called Quivira, they stopped and headed back towards Mexico, exhausted and disappointed. 

The search for Cibola had ended, but it was just the beginning for the Santa Fe Trail.