coronado cross

This is a very small historical marker east of Dodge City. It has no real facilities as it is a marker only. If you happen to be passing on the highway, it will take about 10 minutes to stop and see everything there is to see, but I would not go out of my way to see a large stone cross unless you had another reason to be there.

Hard to imagine, but when Coronado and his exploration men stopped here, they had just crossed the Arkansas River into the United States. The river was the natural border between Old Mexico and what would become part of the southern boundary of the US and Lousiana Purchase in 1803. The picnic table area needs some tender loving care, but the monument is impressive.

Takes a while to get here. Off the path. Not much to see when you get there. Up a small hill if someone has trouble walking.

Weeds, not much to see. If you happen to drive by that's probably good enough. Don't go out of your way.

It comes up so quick so allow yourself time to turn around. This is real history as it happened not too long after Columbus sailed the ocean blue.

Hiked up to the cross. Not difficult at all. Pathway was not kept up very well; overrun grass. Very simple cross. But just the idea that this was the site of the first Christian service held in North America was exciting. Was disappointed that the names of the people who were on the committee to build the cross were on the monument. A little more historical facts instead of their names would have been better. Also disappointed to see that someone had vandalized the cross by marking out "Indians" and writing in white paint "Natives". Come on, the people found on North American were mistakenly called "Indians", but that's no reason to ruin a monument.

Sorry, it wasn't worth the climb up the hill. No real evidence that Coronado was even near the place.