Discover what Columbus and his sailors experienced in person
Historically accurate representations of the Pinta and Nina, two ships from Christopher Columbus’ fleet when he sailed the ocean blue in 1492, will be docking at Ross’s Landing and will open to the public beginning early Thursday morning.
The replica of the Nina was built completely by hand and without the use of modern power tools or any form of electricity by a group of twenty-eighth generation shipwrights in Brazil. The Nina has since been branded by Archaeology magazine as, “the most historically accurate representation of a ship ever created.”
This life-size replica would have been the same ship that Columbus used to sail across the Atlantic on his two of the four voyages to “discover” the New World. This particular ship was favored by Columbus more than the more well-known Santa Maria in part because its small size required only seven foot of water to sail, while the Santa Maria required fourteen feet of water to sail.
This made traveling into smaller bodies of water not only possible, but also much easier. The Nina has a deck length of 65 feet and a beam of 18 feet and reaches about 1,919 square feet. And while that may seem very small by modern standards, it was a grand ship back in its day.
The Pinta was recently built in Brazil to accompany the Nina on her travels along the Western Hemisphere. The Pinta is a larger version of the archetypal caravel and offers a larger deck speck, perfect for walk-aboard tours. It also has a 40-foot air conditioned main cabin down below with a seating area and is available to rent for private parties and charters. The Pinta has a deck length of 85 feet and a beam of 23 feet and reaches a total of 3,800 square feet. So yes, still quite small but a good bit roomier than its sister ship.
While the mere sight of these ships are enough to leave you speechless, they are not just for gawking at. Unlike the original ships, these two are floating museums that visitors can board and experience first-hand. The Nina and Pinta will be making their third trip to Chattanooga.
“We’re expecting Chattanooga to be one of our busiest ports in the United States and we’re estimating well over 12,000 visitors a day,” says Captain Morgan Sanger, “We hope to offer people the opportunity to step back in time and see what life was like for people in the 15th century.” However, life abroad these ships in the 1400’s was not for the faint of heart. The entire lower deck of these ships were packed with previsions to last the journey, yet the crew was still subjected to scurvy.
The ships will be open to the public starting this Thursday on through the 27th of this month from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. (though they will be closed on Thanksgiving Day, for obvious reasons).
To follow the Nina and the Pinta on their adventures over the Atlantic and from port to port, you can follow Columbus Ships on Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram to receive photos and updates on their travels. They will be posting an update once they arrive in Chattanooga.
Columbus Ships Nina & Pinta Opening Day
Thursday, 9 a.m.
Ross's Landing
100 Riverfront Pkwy.
(423) 643-6311