In fourteen hundred ninety-two, Columbus sailed the ocean blue. Today, replicas of two of his three ships, the Nina and the Pinta, will dock at Inlet Harbor Restaurant and Marina, where they be open for tours through May 9.
The original Nina, Pinta and Santa Maria used by Christopher Columbus on his first voyage across the Atlantic were common trading vessels.
After carrying Columbus and his crew to America, the Santa Maria ran aground and sank on Christmas Eve 1492 in Hispaniola. The Pinta would return home and vanish from the record books.
The Nina, named after her original owner, Juan Nino and reportedly Columbus' favorite ship, would go on to a much more prolific career, logging over 25,000 miles at sea until her last recorded voyage in 1501.
And though the ships may be legends of history, today, visitors can once again walk the decks of replicas of these famous vessels thanks to the efforts of the Columbus Foundation.
According to information provided by the foundation, since no blueprints existed, re-creating the Nina took extensive research. Shipwrights using traditional tools built the ship -- a caravel, a popular design of the day in Spain and Portugal -- in Brazil. Archaeology magazine has called the ship, which was built completely by hand and without power tools, "the most authentic Columbus-era replica ever built."
The new Nina made its maiden voyage in December of 1991 to Costa Rica where it debuted in the Ridley Scott film, "1492," with Gerard Depardieu.
The Pinta would be built later, using the same techniques, in 2005.
Both ships now tour together as a "sailing museum," created "for the purpose of educating the public and school children on the caravel, Portuguese ships used by Columbus and many early explorers to discover the world."
While in port at Inlet Harbor Restaurant and Marina, 133 Inlet Harbor Road, Ponce Inlet, visitors can take a walk-aboard, self-guided tour of both ships from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. daily through May 9.
Admission is $8 for adults, $7 for seniors and $6 for students ages 516. Children 4 and younger are free. For more info, call 386-767-5590 or visit thenina.com.
If You Go WHAT: Replicas of the Nina and the Pinta
WHEN: 9 a.m.-5 p.m. today-May 9
WHERE: Inlet Harbor Restaurant and Marina, 133 Inlet Harbor Road, Ponce Inlet
ADMISSION: $8; $7 seniors; $6 students ages 516; ages 4 and younger are free
INFO: 386-767-5590; thenina.com