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Timelines: Civil War timeline, Hispanic timeline, Native American, Santa Fe Trail, Statehood

Hispanic Timeline in New Mexico

1536 – Cabeza de Vaca, Estevan the Moor and two others reach Culiacan, Mexico, after possibly crossing what is now southern New Mexico, and begin rumors of the Seven Cities of Cibola.

1539 – Fray Marcos de Niza and Estevan lead expedition to find Cibola and reach the Zuni village of Hawikuh, where Estevan is killed.

1540-42 – Francisco Vásquez de Coronado explores area from Gulf of California to present day Kansas, discovers the Grand Canyon.
1580-81 – Fray Agustin Rodriguez leads expedition to New Mexico; four members of the party killed by Indians.

1582-83 – Fray Bernadino Beltran and Fray Antonio de Espejo lead expedition to New Mexico to search for survivors of the ill-fated Rodriguez mission.

1598 – Juan de Oñate establishes the first Spanish capital of San Juan de los Caballeros at the Tewa village of Ohke north of present day Española.

1599 – Battle at Acoma between Indians and Spaniards; seeds of Pueblo Revolt sown.

1600 – San Gabriel, second capital of New Mexico, is founded at the confluence of the Rio Grande and the Chama River.

1601 – Mass desertion of San Gabriel by colonists; new recruits from Spain and Mexico sent to reinforce colony.

1605 – Oñate expedition to the Colorado River; visits El Morro, leaves message on Inscription Rock.

1608 – Oñate removed as governor and sent to Mexico City to be tried for mistreatment of the Indians and abuse of power. Decision made by Spanish Crown to continue settlement of New Mexico as a royal province.

1609-10 – Governor Pedro de Peralta establishes a new capital at Santa Fe. Construction begins on the Palace of the Governors. Gaspar de Villagra publishes epic history on the founding of New Mexico, the first book printed about any area in the modern United States.

1626 – Spanish Inquisition established in New Mexico.

1641 – Governor Luis de Rosas assassinated by colonists during conflict between the church and state.

1680 – Pueblo Indian Revolt; Spanish survivors flee to El Paso del Norte.

1692-93 – Don Diego de Vargas recolonizes Santa Fe. Spanish civilization returns to New Mexico.

1695 – Santa Cruz de la Cahada (Cañada) founded.

1696 – Second Pueblo Revolt; efforts thwarted by de Vargas.

1706 – Villa de Alburquerque founded.

1743 – French trappers reach Santa Fe and begin limited trade with the Spanish.

1776 – Franciscan friars Dominguez and Escalante explore route from New Mexico to California.

1786 – Governor Juan Bautista de Anza makes peace with the Comanches.

1793 – First school text printed in New Mexico by Padre Antonio Jose Martinez of Taos.

1807 – Zebulon Pike leads first Anglo American expedition into New Mexico. Publishes account of way of life in New Mexico upon return to U.S.

1821 – Mexico declares independence from Spain. Santa Fe Trail opened to international trade.

1837 – Chimayó Revolt against Mexican taxation leads to the assassination of Governor Albino Perez and top officials.

1841 – Texas soldiers invade New Mexico and claim all land east of the Rio Grande. Efforts thwarted by Governor Manuel Armijo.

1846 – Mexican-American War begins. Stephen Watts Kearny annexes New Mexico to the United States.

1847 – Taos Rebellion against the U.S. military. Governor Charles Bent killed.

1848 – Treaty of Guadalupe Hidalgo ends Mexican-American War.

1850 – New Mexico (which included present-day Arizona, southern Colorado, southern Utah and southern Nevada) is designated a territory, but denied statehood.

1851 – Bishop Jean Baptiste Lamy arrives in New Mexico and establishes schools, hospitals and orphanages throughout the territory.

1854 – The Gadsden Purchase from Mexico adds 45,000 square miles to the territory.

1861 – Confederates invade New Mexico from Texas. The Confederate Territory of Arizona is declared with the capital at La Mesilla. Territory of Colorado is created. New Mexico loses extreme northern-most section to the new territory.

1862 – Battles of Velvarde and Glorieta Pass fought, ends Confederate occupation of New Mexico

1863 – New Mexico is partitioned in half; Territory of Arizona is created.

1916 – Pancho Villa raids Columbus, New Mexico.

1998 – New Mexico celebrates its cuartocentenario, commemorating its 1598 founding by Don Juan de Oñate.

2010 – Santa Fe celebrates its cuartocentenario, commemorating its 1610 founding and status as the oldest capitol.