Coronado National Memorial

Coronado National Memorial IUCN Category V - Protected Landscape / Seascape
Visitors at the Coronado National Memorial
location	Cochise County , USA
surface	19.22 km²
WDPA ID	22503
Geographical location	31 ° 21 ′  N , 110 ° 16 ′  W Coordinates: 31 ° 20 ′ 54 "  N , 110 ° 16 ′ 18"  W
Setup date	5th November 1952
administration	National Park Service

The Coronado National Memorial , near Sierra Vista , commemorates the first expedition of conquistador Francisco Vásquez de Coronado to the southwest of today's USA. In a natural setting on the border with Mexico, the memorial points out the links between the United States and Mexico.

Reenactment of Coronado's arrival, 1540

The creation of the memorial

Official pronouncements suggest it was originally intended as a gesture of goodwill and cooperation between the United States and Mexico by recognizing the expedition in 1540.

The site was first named Coronado International Memorial on August 18, 1941 . This was done in the hope that the corresponding counterpart would emerge on the Mexican side, as is the case with the Waterton-Glacier International Peace Park between the United States and Canada . Although there was interest on the part of the Mexican government, the memorial was never built. Therefore, on July 9, 1952, Congress changed the name to National Memorial . The memorial was opened by Harry S. Truman on November 5, 1952 . Like most historic sites, it is administered by the National Park Service . The National Memorial was added to the National Register of Historic Places on October 15, 1966 .

Individual evidence

• The National Parks: Index 2001-2003 . Washington: United States Department of the Interior .

Web links

• Official NPS website: Coronado National Memorial
• The American Southwest, a National Park Service Discover Our Common Heritage Itinerary