Columbus Day is coming early to the Hudson Valley — or at least the famous explorer’s ships are.
On Thursday, May 28, replicas of the Niña and the Pinta dock in Newburgh for the weekend. They are set to arrive at 11 a.m. and will remain at the Riverfront Marina until early Monday morning on June 1.
These impressive replicas are based on the “caravel” ship that Columbus used on his voyage to the Americas in 1492. The Niña is an exact replica and was built by hand without any power tools. The Pinta is slightly larger than the original in order to hold more people. She was constructed in Brazil and will accompany the Niña on a tour around the area.
The two ships sail together as a part of The Columbus Foundation’s “sailing museum,” designed to educate the public about the type of Portuguese ship that Columbus and many other explorers used on their adventures.
(For those history buffs wondering about the Santa María, she is not among the replicas because she was a different type of ship that would require water depths twice as deep as those of the Niña and the Pinta.)
Since the replicas will be in the Valley for a short time before moving on to Rochester, be sure to visit them for a self-guided tour while you can. No reservations are necessary for the general public; teachers and groups can schedule 30 minute guided tours with a crew member.
If you go…
When: Thursday, May 28 to Monday, June 1, open daily 9 a.m-6 p.m.
Where: Riverfront Marina, 26 Front St., Newburgh
Cost: $8; $7 seniors; $6 students 5-16; free for children 4 and under
Details: Call 787-672-2152 or email columfnd1492@gmail.com for group reservations for a minimum of 15 people. Visit www.ninapinta.org for more information.
