The largest of Columbus’s fleet, the 150-ton vessel grounded in present-day Haiti on Christmas Day, 1492. Only the fate of the Santa Maria is known. 12, 1492, ending the pre-Columbian era in the New World. The 15th century explorer landed in the present-day Bahamas on Oct. “Ships lost in cold, dark, deep water have a much better chance of staying intact and maintaining their ‘time capsule’ value,” he said. Bettmann ArchiveĪnd 500 years of hurricanes would be no friend to a beached hulk, either archaeologist Donald Keith told the magazine. A chromolithograph by Louis Prang and Company. If Columbus’ ships sunk in a region like the Caribbean, they would have easily been consumed by a species of wood-eating mollusk, known as “termites of the sea,” the magazine reported. No one knows whether the vessels, two of which eventually returned to Europe, ended up, if they even survived or were eventually wrecked. 12, 1492, ending the pre-Columbian era in the New World.ĭespite being the find of a lifetime for curious archaeologists and shipwreck chasers - the three ocean-going sailing ships have never been found, according to National Geographic.

More than half a millennium after Christopher Columbus sailed the ocean blue, the physical remains of his three ships - the Niña, the Pinta, and the Santa Maria - remain lost to history. We must rescue America’s heroes from those who tear them down Vandals spray-paint ‘Murderer’ on Central Park Columbus statue Photos show pair who scrawled ‘Murderer’ on Christopher Columbus statue: NYPD IN WITNESS WHEREOF, I have hereunto set my hand thisĮighth day of October, in the year of our Lord two thousand twenty-one, and of the Independence of the United States of America the two hundred and forty-sixth.Vikings were in the Americas 500 years before Christopher Columbus: study I direct that the flag of the United States be displayed on all public buildings on the appointed day in honor of our diverse history and all who have contributed to shaping this Nation. BIDEN JR., President of the United States of America, do hereby proclaim October 11, 2021, as Columbus Day. 107), as amended, has requested the President proclaim the second Monday of October of each year as “Columbus Day.” Today, let this day be one of reflection - on America’s spirit of exploration, on the courage and contributions of Italian Americans throughout the generations, on the dignity and resilience of Tribal Nations and Indigenous communities, and on the work that remains ahead of us to fulfill the promise of our Nation for all. In commemoration of Christopher Columbus’s historic voyage 529 years ago, the Congress, by joint resolution of April 30, 1934, and modified in 1968 (36 U.S.C.

On this day, we recognize this painful past and recommit ourselves to investing in Native communities, upholding our solemn and sacred commitments to Tribal sovereignty, and pursuing a brighter future centered on dignity, respect, justice, and opportunity for all people. For Native Americans, western exploration ushered in a wave of devastation: violence perpetrated against Native communities, displacement and theft of Tribal homelands, the introduction and spread of disease, and more. It is a measure of our greatness as a Nation that we do not seek to bury these shameful episodes of our past - that we face them honestly, we bring them to the light, and we do all we can to address them. Today, we also acknowledge the painful history of wrongs and atrocities that many European explorers inflicted on Tribal Nations and Indigenous communities. Today, millions of Italian Americans continue to enrich our country’s traditions and culture and make lasting contributions to our Nation - they are educators, health care workers, scientists, first responders, military service members, and public servants, among so many other vital roles. Many Italians would follow his path in the centuries to come, risking poverty, starvation, and death in pursuit of a better life. While he intended to end his quest in Asia, his 10-week journey instead landed him on the shores of the Bahamas, making Columbus the first of many Italian explorers to arrive in what would later become known as the Americas. More than 500 years ago, after securing the support of Queen Isabella I and King Ferdinand II, Christopher Columbus launched the Niña, the Pinta, and the Santa Maria from the coast of Spain in 1492. Get Involved Show submenu for “Get Involved””.The White House Show submenu for “The White House””.Office of the United States Trade Representative.Office of Science and Technology Policy.Executive Offices Show submenu for “Executive Offices””.Administration Show submenu for “Administration””.

Nina pinta and santa maria