European Exploration

Norsemen from Scandinavia may have reached Oklahoma as early as 1012 A.D. A Viking "runestone," if authentic, found near Heavener in Le Flore County, proves that fact. The Heavener stone had eight "runes" or markings. When translated, the runes say "Sun Dial Valley, November 11, 1012." Searchers have also found at least two other runestones that help prove that Vikings once reached the Sooner State. It is very possible that the Vikings may have used the Arkansas River as a gateway into today’s Oklahoma. Even so, no other developments followed. The Vikings did not establish permanent settlements.

While Coronado was approaching Oklahoma from the southwest, another Spaniard approached it from the east. From his base in Cuba, the explorer Hernando De Soto led an expedition that landed at today’s Tampa Bay, Florida. Then, he and his men plundered their way across what is now the southeastern part of our country. De Soto made the European discovery of the Mississippi River, crossed it, and journeyed farther westward. He and his men marched into the southeastern part of Oklahoma before returning to the banks of the Mississippi where De Soto died. Because neither Coronado nor De Soto found great riches, Spain considered Oklahoma unimportant and never developed the area.

French explorers were the next Europeans to establish a claim to Oklahoma. In 1682, the French trader Robert Cavalier, Sieur de La Salle, traveled south from the Great Lakes region. He struck the Mississippi River and canoed down it to the Gulf of Mexico. He claimed all the land drained by the big river and all its tributaries for the King of France. The claim included Oklahoma. 

Other French explorers soon followed up on La Salle’s expedition. The French trader Jean-Baptiste Benard, Sieur de La Harpe led a band of French traders to eastern Oklahoma in 1718-19 to persuade the Indians to let him trade in the area. He confirmed that France could develop a wealthy trading empire by dealing with the Indians. The French could offer the Indians European goods and receive in return the fur pelts and hides of the buffalo, deer, bear and other animals that lived in Oklahoma. Soon, dozens of French traders swarmed into the state. From 1721 to 1763, the French controlled the destiny of Oklahoma. Their importance can still be seen in many names of places in the state. Poteau, Illinois, Sallisaw, Kiamichi, Chouteau, Salina--all these are French names.

In 1763, the French lost their claim to Oklahoma. The English defeated France in the French and Indian War (1754-1763). The struggle centered on the land between the Great Lakes and the Ohio River. After the war, England (the British Empire) took control of Canada. To stop the English from taking control of all French lands in North America, France transferred its westerns lands to Spain. Spain administered those lands, including Oklahoma, from 1763 to 1800. 

In 1800, the area was again transferred back to the French due to political pressure brought by the new, powerful French leader, Napoleon. But, because of continuing warfare in Europe and the need for money to finance the wars, Napoleon decided in 1803 to sell the French lands to the United States. In a treaty called the Louisiana Purchase, America doubled its size, and Oklahoma passed into the hands of the United States.

Additional Resources

Study Guide Questions:

1. Who were Coronado and De Soto and what connection do they have to Oklahoma?.
2. Why did Spaniards lose interest in Oklahoma?
3. Who was Robert Cavalier sieur de La Salle?
4. How did the reasons French explorers came to Oklahoma differ from the Spaniards reasons?
5. What was the Louisiana Purchase and how did it come about?
6. Name the nations' flags that have flown over Oklahoma.

Vocabulary

[ Help ] [ Table of Contents ] [ Biographies ] [ Oklahoma Today ] [ Resources ] [ Search ] [ Sights and Sounds ] [ Timelines ] [ Student Activities ] [ Crossword Puzzles ] [ Quizzes ]