In what year did conquistadors first cross Oklahoma?

The year 1540 is significant in Oklahoma's history as it's when Spanish conquistador Francisco Coronado led an expedition through parts of what is now Oklahoma. This expedition was part of a broader exploration of the North American continent in search of wealth and new territories, which characterized the Spanish Conquest era. Coronado's travels through this region led to some of the earliest European encounters with Native American tribes in Oklahoma, such as the Wichita and others.

In contrast, the year 1492 marks the arrival of Christopher Columbus in the Americas, which is a pivotal date for the beginning of European exploration but does not specifically relate to Oklahoma. The year 1601 is linked to later explorations in Mexico and Texas, and 1680 refers to events well after the initial Spanish conquests, concentrating mostly on other areas of the Americas. Thus, 1540 stands out as the year when conquistadors specifically first entered the territory that is now Oklahoma.