Spanish explorer Hernando de Soto becomes first European colonizer to reach Mississippi River 480 years ago #OnThisDay #OTD (May 8 1541)

1720s and before


Video: 'Hernando de Soto - Explorer | Mini Bio | BIO'

(Sunday, May 8, 1541) — Spanish explorer Hernando de Soto today became the first European colonizer to reach the Mississippi River, the second-longest river and chief river of the second-largest drainage system on the North American continent.