21-italian texans - institute of texan cultures：21意大利得克萨斯德克萨斯州文化馆.pdf

21-Italian Texans Early Italian Explorers Sailing under the Spanish flag in 1497, Amerigo i was probably the first per- son from Italy to view the Texas coast. The naming of America after him was done by a map maker without i's knowledge and was one of history's curious accidents. Italians in Francisco Vasquez de Coronado's Spanish expedition were among the first Europeans to step onto Texas soil. The expe- dition arrived on the high plains of West Texas from Mexico in 1541, searching for the Seven Cities of Cibola. They believed the cities were filled with gold and treasure. Henri de Tonti explored the Mississippi River with La Salle, claiming the area for France. He stayed behind establishing forts after La Salle returned to France. De Tonti later made several trips into Texas searching for La Salle's colony, Fort Saint Louis, on Garcitas Creek. Italian Settlers in Texas Italian immigrants to Texas arrived with strong connections to their home village and country. Most came from the poor villages in southern Italy and the island of Sicily. In 1880 Italian farmers settled in the flood- prone area of the Brazos Valley between Hearne and Bryan. By 1905 the town of Bryan had 3,000 Ita