Public involvement is an integral part of managing Coronado National Memorial. The purpose of this public comment request is to solicit input on proposed changes to the current exhibits in the visitor center.
CORONADO NATIONAL MEMORIAL DRAFT EXHIBIT SYNOPSIS
1. Journey to the Unknown
a. Intro Panel
i. Coronado National Memorial, a unit of the National Park System, commemorates the Coronado Expedition of 1540, the first European entry into the region that is now Northern Mexico and the southwestern United States. The Entrada, represented by the Coronado expedition, set in motion events that changed the biological and human landscapes forever. In the process, these events helped create the southwest culture we know today; a melding of Mexican, American, and Native American traditions.
2. A Rich Heritage
a. Exhibit of pre-historic artifacts
b. Computer generated diorama with prehistoric settlements, fading to early historic settlements, and finally to today.
i. Native peoples not only survived, but flourished for thousands of years throughout the lands Coronado traversed. The richness of the San Pedro River valley has drawn settlers throughout the centuries.
3. The Search for the Seven Cities
a. Map of the Expedition
b. Numbers of people and types of animals Coronado brought with him.
i. It was a journey of exploration, filled with wonder and cruelty, celebration and failure. Inspired by rumors of vast quantities of gold, 339 soldiers and over 1100 Indian allies and slaves embarked on an epic journey to capture their fortune. They wound their way through arid deserts and steep rugged mountains searching for the Seven Cities of Cibola. They brought with them their culture, filled with rich language, long-held tradition and deep, abiding faith.
4. The Blending of Two Worlds
a. Animation of New/Old World pathways and items of exchange or…
b. Touchscreen/table linking pathways
i. Coronado and those who followed irrevocably changed the lives of the native peoples, bringing horses, cattle, sheep, pigs, goats, steel weapons, technology, religion, and art
ii. The Native Peoples changed the Old World with beans, maize, chili peppers, potatoes, turkeys, tomatoes, chocolate, art, and religion.
iii. Diseases were exchanged between peoples on both continents; New World peoples were particularly ravaged by small pox.
5. Weapons of War
a. Exhibit of chain mail and Spanish weapons
b. Exhibit of native weapons
i. Technology gave the Spaniards a distinct and significant advantage.
6. A Line in the Sand
a. Map with historic boundaries.
i. The Treaty of Guadalupe-Hidalgo, ending the Mexican-American War, established the border and the need to protect it. The Gadsden Purchase in 1853 was the final major adjustment to the U.S.-Mexico border.
- Section of modern fence
i. As immigrants continue to move north from Mexico, Central and South America, the border between the Mexico and the U.S. has become even more clearly defined. Vehicle and pedestrian barriers have been erected to try to stem the flow of humans and drugs into the United States. Is the fence effective?
7. The Search Continues
- Exhibit with examples of immigrant items
- LCD Screen with interviews of immigrants
i. Like the explorers of yesterday, thousands of immigrants still seek prosperity to the north, hoping for a better life and bringing with them their own traditions, celebrations and language.
8. Sky Islands-Biological Crossroads
a. Touchscreen kiosk
i. From the time of the formation of the Huachuca Mountains to the current settlement along the San Pedro River, Coronado National Memorial and its environs have been under constant change through both natural and human processes. The memorial features diverse landscapes and sweeping views because it is centered at a crossroads of four major environments; Sierra Madre, Rocky Mountain, Chihuahua Desert and Sonora Desert.
ii. Photomurals
- Natural History
- Kiosk and touch screen for visitors to use in animal and plant identification.
Comments can be sent via email to the Chief of Interpretation or sent to :
Coronado National Memorial
Chief of Interpretation
4101 E. Montezuma Canyon Rd.
Hereford, AZ 85615
