Historical Marker

In Vicinity of Coronado's Camp

Historical marker location:
US 277 & FM 89 junction, Abilene, Texas
( From Abilene, take Highway 277 southwest about 15 miles to junction 89)
Marker installed: 1968

In 1541, the Spanish explorer Coronado is thought to have passed this way en route from New Mexico to the fabled Indian villages of "Quivira", though his path across vast Texas plains is now difficult to determine. Upon finding that his Indian guide, "The Turk", had taken him too far south, Coronado halted at a small canyon or barranca. Here he conferred with his captains and decided to follow the compass directly north. When they reached "Quivira" (possibly in Kansas), no gold was found - only the poor, grass huts of a Wichita village.

(1968).