Timeline Thursday 8 May 1541

Events on Thursday 8 May 1541 1

• 1541 Hernando de Soto Reaches the Mississippi River Spanish expedition becomes first Europeans to document the river Hernando de Soto's expedition, marching through the southeastern interior of North America in search of riches, arrived at the banks of the Mississippi River. His party was among the first recorded Europeans to see and cross the river. De Soto died of fever on its banks less than a year later.