Today, the U.S.-Mexico border covers 2,000 miles, encompassing four U.S. and six Mexican states. But the area has changed quite a bit over the years. In the pre-Columbian era, the land was inhabited by Native Americans who did not draw border lines. Find out how the area changed through the colonization of the Americas, the discovery of gold, wars, immigration, NAFTA and other historical events.

This section contains:

• An interactive timeline that you can use to find out more about this history of the border
• A text timeline featuring important dates and events of the region, including fuller descriptions of key aspects of border life; this timeline can be printed and used as a reference
• A morphing map showing how the border lines have changed throughout history
• A list of other Web sites that can lead you to more information about the border