hundreds of years before the discovery of gold in Colorado during 1859, a highly developed European civilization had explored and settled the area now known as New Mexico and Colorado. Spanish conquistadors roamed the plains in the mid-1500s. They came here permanently in 1598 and founded the second oldest city in North America. This long cultural heritage was overshadowed when Colorado [and New Mexico] became part of the United States during the mid-1800s. This publication is neither prehistory nor purely western history. It reveals an aspect of our past that is sometimes overlooked and often forgotten. This volume represents a modest contribution to the Columbus Quincentennial year. It is fitting that during this 500th anniversary of the "discovery" of the New World, Spanish contributions to our western heritage are recognized.

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