1000 - 1799 1541 - Spanish explorer Hernando De Soto stops in Texarkana at a site in what is now Spring Lake Park. He squashed a mutiny by hanging one of his men from and Oak tree about 100 yards west of the springs. He would continue south to Mississippi, where he would die a short time later at the age of 45. De Soto Had landed in Florida in 1539 with 55- men looking for the "Kingdom of Gold". 1541 - Spanish explorers Hernando de Soto and Luis de Moscoso de Alverado first encounter Cadd Indian tribes while exploring what is now Southwestern Arkansas and Northeast Texas. 1687 - French explorer Rene Robert Cavalier Sieur de la Salle arrives in East Texas with French settlers who begin setting up trading posts and trade with the Caddo. 1719 - Fort Saint Louis de La Harpe established near the intersection of the Red and Sulphur Rivers by French Explorer Benard de La Harpe. 1720 - French settlers are now trading regularly with the Caddo Indians at trading posts throughout the region. This relationship would continue for another 80 years. 1722 - French explorer Benard de La Harpe travels down the Arkansas River and starts a settlement that he would name Little Rock. 1763 - Treaty of Paris cedes all French claims to Texas and Louisiana to Spain. 1770 - De Mezieres visits the Caddo Indians on the upper Red River and calls the area "the master key to new Spain". 1770 - April 21 - Caddos agree with de Mezieres to cede all their land to the King of Spain. ************************************************************************ USGENWEB NOTICE: In keeping with our policy of providing free information on the Internet, material may be freely used by non-commercial entities, as long as this message remains on all copied material, AND permission is obtained from the contributor of the file. These electronic pages may NOT be reproduced in any format for profit or presentation by other organizat ions. Persons or organizations desiring to use this material for non-comme rcial purposes, MUST obtain the written consent of the contributor, OR legal representative of the submitter, and contact the listed USGenWeb archivist with proof of this consent. Submitted by Vicki Richardson mailto:GVRICHARDS@aol.com ************************************************************************