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De Soto in Georgia Historical Marker
- De Soto in Georgia State Historical
Marker
- Located in a park at the Carter's Lake Visitors Center,
north of Ga. 136
(Text)
DE SOTO IN GEOGIA
In May 1539 Hernando de Soto landed
in Florida with over 600 people, 220 horses and mules, and a
herd of swine reserved for famine. Fired by his success in Pizarro's
conquest of Peru, De Soto had been granted the rights, by the
King of Spain, to explore, then govern, southeastern North America.
After wintering in Tallahassee,
the De Soto expedition set out on a quest for gold which eventually
spanned four years and crossed portions of nine states. This
was the first recorded European exploration of the interior of
the Southeast. Over 300 members died on the expedition, including
De Soto in 1542. This tremendous effort forever changed the lives
of the Indians who were infected with old world diseases, killed
in battle, enslaved, made destitute and sometimes befriended.
Many scholars believe that the
De Soto expedition entered Georgia north of here and reached
the central town of the Chiefdom of Coosa, July 16, 1540. the
Spanish spent over a month a rich fortified town between the
two streams. Spanish accounts from the De Soto and Tristan de
Luna expeditions, and 16th century Spanish artifacts indicate
this was the location of Coosa.
105-12 GEORGIA HISTORIC
MARKER 1990
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