Within the memorial is an overlook at Montezuma Pass where the Coronado expedition entered modern Arizona.

Official statements indicate that it was initially designed as a gesture of goodwill and cooperation between the United States and Mexico, through the recognition of Coronado's 1540 expedition to the area.

For example, in 1939 the House Committee on Foreign Affairs noted: And E. K. Burlew, Acting Secretary of the Interior added in 1940: Thus the site was first designated Coronado International Memorial on August 18, 1941, with the hope that a comparable adjoining area would be established in Mexico.

[3] After a 1978 park boundary expansion, the Memorial also began protecting Coronado Cave, a 600 foot-long cavern containing a variety of formations and historic graffiti which visitors can explore independently.

[4] The cave is located within the south slope of Montezuma Peak, which is the highest point of Coronado National Memorial.