1528:
- Álvar Núñez Cabeza de Vaca and his crew set sail from Spain in search of the legendary "Seven Cities of Gold" in Florida but were shipwrecked on the coast of present-day Texas.
- Cabeza de Vaca embarked on a journey across the southern and western regions of what is now the United States. He encountered various native tribes and documented their customs and observations of the lands.
- After years of travel, Cabeza de Vaca eventually made it back to Spanish settlements in Mexico, becoming one of the first Europeans to cross the North American continent.
1539-1542:
- Francisco Vázquez de Coronado led a large expedition from Mexico to explore the Southwest and search for the rumored golden cities of Cíbola and Quivira.
- Coronado and his men traveled through what are now the states of Arizona, New Mexico, Oklahoma, Texas, and Kansas. They encountered numerous Native American groups, including the Puebloans and the Zuni people.
- Despite extensive travels, Coronado did not find the riches he sought and eventually returned to Mexico. However, his expedition provided valuable geographical information and documented diverse native cultures.
1540:
- Hernando de Soto led an expedition into present-day Florida and explored the southeastern regions of the United States.
- De Soto's journey took him and his men through what are now the states of Georgia, Tennessee, Alabama, Mississippi, Arkansas, and Texas. They engaged in conflicts with numerous Native American tribes along the way.
- De Soto passed away during the expedition, and his men continued their exploration until they reached the Mississippi River. The group eventually returned to Mexico.
1576:
- Martin Frobisher set out from England in search of a Northwest Passage to Asia and sailed along the eastern coast of Canada, exploring present-day Baffin Island.
1583-1584:
- Sir Humphrey Gilbert attempted to establish an English colony in present-day Newfoundland but failed and passed away during the expedition.
1598:
- Juan de Oñate led an expedition from Mexico to establish a permanent settlement in the Southwest, marking the beginning of the colonization of New Mexico.
These expeditions played significant roles in shaping European understanding of the lands north of Mexico, paving the way for further explorations and colonization of the North American continent.