Who explored the southwest and was the first European to see the Grand Canyon?

Answer 1

In truth we do not know who was first. Native Americans have lived in proximity to the canyon for thousands of years.

Captain Garcia Lopez de Cardenas was the first European, or at least he was in command of that expedition as a part of Coronado's 1540 exploration in search of the Seven Cities of Cibola. He never reached the canyon floor.

Answer 2

It really depends on who you count as "discoverers". There first people in the Grand Canyon were an ancient Native American tribe known simply as the gatherers. Then the Native American tribe the Anasazi came. Then many other white people saw the grand canyon. John Wesley Powell was the first one to raft down the Colorado river.

Answer 3

History gives that honor to Captain Garcia Lopez de Cardenas an officer under the command of Francisco Vasquez de Coronado. Some conflict exists as to wether the Canyon had been previously visited via an expedition through the Sea of Cortez that is known to have at least reached present day Yuma.

Answer 4

The Spanish conquistador García López de Cárdenas and a band of soldiers were the first white men (European) to see the Grand Canyon. I doubt the name of the first person officially called an American to see it is known.

Answer 5

It was Captain Garcia Lopez de Cardenas from the 1540 Coronado Expodition.

Answer 6

Captain Garcia Lopez de Cardenas first discovered the South Rim in September of 1540. Sections of the Grand Canyon would continued to be discovered for nearly 300 years.

Answer 7

It was a Spanish Captain, Garcia Lopez de Cardenas who was under orders from Francisco Vasquez de Coronado in 1540.

Answer 8

It was Captain Garcia Lopez de Cardenas in 1540.

Answer 9

Garcia Lopez de Cardenas