Crossing Into History

Historical marker location:

Yuma, Arizona

( Marker can be reached from Prison Hill Road.)

Juan Bautista de Anza National Historic Trail.

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."