Lewis & Clark, Missouri River
Daniel Boone, Cumberland Gap
The inbreeding of the nobility of Europe
Then compare the 3. That should give you some insight into what happens when mankind explores.
Rather compare to the maned expeditions to the moon and the vast economic wealth that was created as a result of these - oops, my bad, there was zero wealth that was created as a result of the manned landings on the moon. (and Mars is over 100 times further away)