A MONUMENT TO MARCOS DE NIZA

IN THE YEAR 1539 a pious and devoted Franciscan monk by the name of Marcos de Niza "for the glory of God and King of Spain" came into the land that is now Arizona searching for the Seven Cities of Cibola, which were said to be rich beyond description.

Fray Marcos de Niza trudged up from Mexico, crossed into Arizona, and came to the very walls of Zuni villages in New Mexico, which he saw in the light of a golden setting sun. To the pious monk, weary and tired, they appeared as golden villages. He returned to Mexico and from his story resulted the expedition in 1540 of the haughty conquistador, Coronado. Estevanico, dark-skinned slave who accompanied Marcos de Niza into Arizona, was killed by hostile natives.

So with the foot-steps of Fray Marcos de Niza European civilization came into Arizona. Four centuries later, in solemn and fitting ceremony, a beautiful, simple monument was erected at Lochiel, in along the path of Marcos de Niza, and long, long ago vanished the minions of Spain who trod first into the unexplored wilderness of this, our southwest.

Four centuries have left their mark on the pages of history, chapters of which lie dark in antiquity. The rise and fall of Spain. the coming of the devoted ones who came not for gold, but to carry the teachings of Christianity to the Indians, the erection of missions some of which stand today . . . the era of Indian warfare . . . the coming of the wagon trains . . . the arrival of law and order . . . and the beginnings of the great modern Empire of the West which stands today on the threshold of greater development!

The monument dedicated to Fray Marcos de Niza commemorates one who passed this way four hundred years ago! It also symbolizes the message of those centuries and it marks the progress of our commonwealth through the dusty years..