North America By 11parkd Jan 1, 1492 Christopher Columbus discovered the Americas Jan 1, 1510 Spain began settlements in Jamaica Jan 1, 1565 Spanish founded Florida Jan 1, 1598 New Mexico claimed by Spanish Explorers Jan 1, 1612 French explorers discovered Lake Huron Jan 1, 1616 Smallpox devastates Native Americans Jan 1, 1620 Mayflower land on Cape Cod