Between Two Countries: A History of Coronado National Memorial 1939-1990 is the inspiring story of a generation that sought to acknowledge the common history the United States shares with Mexico. The story began at a time when fact and legend intertwined to commemorate the 400th anniversary of the first European expedition to traverse northwestern Mexico and the southwest of the U.S. In the end, two governments with different historical viewpoints agreed to disagree on the creation of an international monument with corresponding sites on both sides of the border. Congress officially established Coronado National Memorial in 1952 on the U.S. side of the International Boundary. The National Park Service took the reins to commemorate the harmonious relations with Mexico and the common history shared by citizens of both countries.