 Homeport of the Columbus Fleet
Where history and science meet...
Visiting expeditionary history on the Texas Gulf Coast
Corpus Christi's floating museums a tribute to the world explorer largely credited with the discovery of the new world
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By Logan Hawkes
 By design or luck, explorer Chris Columbus is credited as being one of the first Europeans to set foot in the New World. All right, he may not have discovered America - as our Native American relatives remind us - but you must admit a transatlantic crossing in ships like the Pinta, Nina and Santa Maria was pretty bold for his day. Heck - all bets were against him at the gambling joints in Madrid and Rome. And the odds were pretty good he would never even return.
But equipped with luck and good fortune, these three and now famous vessels of history plodded along warm sea currents and eventually found their unknown mark in the New World - as Chris liked to call it.
 Corpus Christi, the jewel of the Texas Coastal Bend, is currently home to the replicas of Columbus's three ships. The vessels, built in detail by the Spanish government to commemorate the 500-year anniversary of the maiden voyages in 1992, sailed the exact route from Spain to the Americas as did their namesakes. After visiting ports and harbors all across America, the ships found a more permanent home in Corpus.
Two of the ships can still be visited at the Corpus Christi Museum of Science and History, while the third is harbored at a different location in the city and used exclusively for educational purposes.
While the three ships are only replicas, recently archeologists have discovered what they believe to be the real shipwreck remains of one of the historic vessels. Researchers in Panama say a sunken ship found off their coast could be one of the vessels used by Christopher Columbus in his last voyage to the Americas.
In a BBC online article published Oct. 11th, 2002, evidence tends to support the theory:
"We have discovered a Spanish ship in good condition, and looking at the pieces on board and historical records, we believe it belonged to Christopher Columbus," said Rafael Ruiloba, head of the National Culture Institute.
"Looking at the pieces on board and historical records, we believe it belonged to Christopher Columbus..."
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Rafael Ruiloba, National Culture Institute
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Mr. Ruiloba believes the ship - discovered in shallow Caribbean waters off the port of Portobelo in the department of Colon - is the Vizcaina, abandoned by the Genoa-born explorer on his fourth voyage. That final expedition consisted of a fleet of four. Only two ships survived.
Whether you're a history buff or are just looking for a warm, subtropical clime for your next adventure, Corpus Christi and the Texas Coastal Bend offer plenty to see and do. And a visit to the Columbus replicas is a trip well spent!
Connect to the resources below and explore the history and
beauty of this remarkable region and the history it protects
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