Dr. A. J. Chandler

Historical marker location:

4 South Marcos Place, Chandler, Arizona

( Marker can be reached from South Marcos Place near West Commonwealth Avenue, on the right when traveling north.)

Marker installed: 1986

1859 1950.

The first documented European exploration of Arizona was in 1539: Spanish explorer Marcos de Niza became the first European to explore what is now Arizona in 1539. He claimed the area for Spain and named it "Arizona" after a Native American word meaning "silver-bearing."