Today in History is a daily newsletter from Britannica. (more) Today in History—February 23: The Expedition That Chased Cities of Gold Written by Michele Metych Michele Metych is the lead editor for Today in History at Encyclopædia Britannica. Michele Metych Fact-checked by Britannica Editors Encyclopaedia Britannica's editors oversee subject areas in which they have extensive knowledge, whether from years of experience gained by working on that content or via study for an advanced degree.... Britannica Editors Last updated Feb. 19, 2026 •History On this day in 1540, more than a thousand men marched north from Mexico in search of cities made of gold. Instead, they found Kansas. Today in History is a daily newsletter from Britannica.Encyclopædia Britannica, Inc. Want to learn more about what happened on February 23, or any other day of the year? Sign up to receive the newsletter in your inbox every morning. It started, as these stories often do, with a shipwreck. In 1536 Álvar...

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