- What is the purpose of the Columbus Foundation?
- How is Columbus remembered in these "floating museums?"
- Based on the website, my guess is that like the Nina, one of the "greatest little ships in the world's history," Columbus will be cast in a similar light.
On Board the Ships:
Apparently the Santa Maria was sunk on Christmas Eve of 1492 off the coast of Hispaniola--but we'll save that story for another day. It should be noted too however that the Nina and Pinta on hand in Hartford are recreations of the originals which is in fact the most interesting part of their story. As a few New England investors were investigating how to commemorate the 500th Anniversary of Columbus's "discovery" of America, they came across shipbuilders in Bahia, Brazil who were employing techniques from the 15th century. During the Age of Discovery, Brazil was founded by the Portuguese. Once Portugal ran out of wood, they sent their shipbuilders to Brazil. So began the reproduction of the Nina in 1988, utilizing shipbuilders and techniques descendent of the Age of Exploration. Pretty cool!
The purpose of the Columbus Foundation is to educate with their floating museum. I asked one of the crewmen, an informative journeyman teacher, Dave, if the venture, which has travelled over 500,000 miles since 1988, has been confronted by the anti-Columbus movement. He noted that there have been multiple instances but only one of note in Knoxville, TN. There, protestors yelled at the ship and crew for 30 minutes or so, calling them supporters of the genocidal maniac that Columbus was. Dave had a different perspective on the matter, accusing the greed of Spanish nobility and hostile, barbaric and cannibalistic natives. Interestingly, he also noted that Columbus Day was created by New England politicians to appease American-Italians. Not sure of the validity, but that point certainly raises further questions...
Apparently the Santa Maria was sunk on Christmas Eve of 1492 off the coast of Hispaniola--but we'll save that story for another day. It should be noted too however that the Nina and Pinta on hand in Hartford are recreations of the originals which is in fact the most interesting part of their story. As a few New England investors were investigating how to commemorate the 500th Anniversary of Columbus's "discovery" of America, they came across shipbuilders in Bahia, Brazil who were employing techniques from the 15th century. During the Age of Discovery, Brazil was founded by the Portuguese. Once Portugal ran out of wood, they sent their shipbuilders to Brazil. So began the reproduction of the Nina in 1988, utilizing shipbuilders and techniques descendent of the Age of Exploration. Pretty cool!The purpose of the Columbus Foundation is to educate with their floating museum. I asked one of the crewmen, an informative journeyman teacher, Dave, if the venture, which has travelled over 500,000 miles since 1988, has been confronted by the anti-Columbus movement. He noted that there have been multiple instances but only one of note in Knoxville, TN. There, protestors yelled at the ship and crew for 30 minutes or so, calling them supporters of the genocidal maniac that Columbus was. Dave had a different perspective on the matter, accusing the greed of Spanish nobility and hostile, barbaric and cannibalistic natives. Interestingly, he also noted that Columbus Day was created by New England politicians to appease American-Italians. Not sure of the validity, but that point certainly raises further questions...
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| If you're looking for an interesting summer gig. |
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| An interesting tie between exploration and the Knights Templar. |
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