Garcia Lopez de Cardenas

The son of Alonso de Cárdenas y doña Elvira de Figueroa and Maria García Osorio, Garcia Lopez de Cardenas was the comendador de Caravaca.

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Cardenas was a conquistador attached to the exploits of Francisco Vasquez de Coronado. Expeditions, including one led by Pedro de Tobar, had heard reports of a large river north of Cíbola (Zuñi). Cárdenas was dispatched in 1540 by the general stationed in Cíbola with the express mission of locating such a river and returning within 80 days. Pedro de Sotomayor accompanied him to record the event as a cronista. After some twenty days of marching in a northerly direction, he was successful; but his band found difficulties in reaching the river (called the River Tizon), owing to the sheer vertical distance down from their position. They were standing on the South Rim, a great canyon. After several days of failed attempts to descend to the water (his men were suffering from thirst), his party was forced to return to Cíbola.

Related Topics:
Conquistador - Francisco Vasquez de Coronado - Pedro de Tobar - Cíbola - Pedro de Sotomayor - River Tizon

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While Cardenas is credited with being the first European to lay eyes on the Grand Canyon, Hernando de Alarcón had explored the Colorado River several months beforehand.

Related Topics:
Grand Canyon - Hernando de Alarcón - Colorado River

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