In 1541 Spaniards under Francisco Vásquez de Coronado explored part of Kansas while searching for gold said to be located in a land called “Quivira.” Another Spanish expedition, led by Juan de Oñate, entered Kansas early in the 17th century. French fur traders came later. Spain and France were rivals in the area until it eventually came under French control, but neither country attempted to establish settlements. In 1803 the United States acquired the area making up the present state (except for the southwestern corner, which was later acquired from Texas) as part of the Louisiana Purchase.

(See Louisiana Purchase.)

In 1804 the Lewis and Clark expedition passed through the area, on the Missouri River, while exploring the newly acquired Louisiana territory. Other explorers who traveled through Kansas on their way west included Zebulon M. Pike, Stephen H. Long, and Jacob Fowler. Most of the explorers concluded that the plains area was illsuited for agriculture and, therefore, worthless. The region came to be called “the Great American Desert.”

Kansas was part of the Missouri Territory from 1812 until Missouri became a state in 1821. From then until 1834, it remained without a government. In that year, Kansas became part of the Indian Territory. More than 10,000 Indians were removed by the federal government from the East and relocated in Kansas. By the mid-1840's, about 20 tribes had reservation lands in Kansas. Many Indians found life difficult in their new land, and there was much suffering caused by disease.

In the meantime, the Santa Fe Trail had been established through part of Kansas (1821). Later, other trails, including the Oregon Trail, were established and forts were built along the way. Fort Leavenworth, constructed in 1827, was the first of these army posts. White settlements grew up around the forts. Early attempts at farming destroyed the myth of the Great American Desert—the land proved to be fertile—and new settlers were attracted to Kansas.