<P> Hernando de Soto ( c. 1495 -- May 21 , 1542 ) was a Spanish explorer and conquistador who led the first European expedition deep into the territory of the modern - day United States ( Florida , Georgia , Mississippi , Alabama and most likely Arkansas ) . He is the first European documented as having crossed the Mississippi River . </P>
<P> Hernando de Soto ( c. 1495 -- May 21 , 1542 ) was a Spanish explorer and conquistador who led the first European expedition deep into the territory of the modern - day United States ( Florida , Georgia , Mississippi , Alabama and most likely Arkansas ) . He is the first European documented as having crossed the Mississippi River . </P>
which explorer traveled to the carolinas and oklahoma and found the mississippi river
which explorer traveled to the carolinas and oklahoma and found the mississippi river
Hernando de Soto
Hernando de Soto