Handbook 144
By David Lavender
Produced by the
Division of Publications
National Park Service
U.S. Department of the Interior
Washington, D.C.
American history begins not with the English atJamestown or the Pilgrims at Plymouth but withSpanish exploration of the border country fromFlorida to California in the 16th century. This handbookdescribes the expeditions of three intrepidexplorers—De Soto, Coronado, and Cabrillo—theiradventures, their encounters with native inhabitants,and the consequences, good and ill, of their journeys.This little-known story is related by DavidLavender, author of many books on the AmericanWest. His work gives perspective to the severalnational parks that commemorate the first Spanishexplorations.
National Park Handbooks, compact introductions tothe natural and historical places administered by theNational Park Service, are designed to promotepublic understanding and enjoyment of the parks.These handbooks are intended to be informativereading and useful guides. More than 100 titles are inprint. They are sold at parks and by mail from theSuperintendent of Documents, U.S. GovernmentPrinting Office, Washington, D.C. 20402.
This 16th-century woodcu