These Once In A Lifetime Ship Tours Just Made Port Right Here In Arkansas
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Carol Ann Carson
Author
Arkansas has plenty of sights to see and historical places to visit; however, sometimes the history will come to us. Replicas of Columbus’ ships, the Niña and Pinta, have made port in Fort Smith for the week. Make plans to catch this floating tour before they sail away.
They're at the harbor right across from the Gerber Plant.
It's $7.50 if you're a senior, $6.00 for children (5-6), or $5.00 if you're with a group of 15 folks.
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They were built in Valenca, Brazil by eighth generation shipwrights. The Niña is an exact replica and the Pinta is slightly larger to accommodate a larger crew.
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They travel the Gulf Coast, the East Coast, the Great Lakes, and the Midwestern River System to reach about 40 different locations.
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The ships are ran by 16 volunteers that commit to at least one month of sailing. One crew member has sailed with the ships for 15 years.
They're the only traveling replicas in existence. Caravel ships were produced for almost 125 years during the "Great Age of Discovery."
One of the crew members pointed out a reason to visit, "To, in some small way, enter that age, to perhaps get a feeling for Columbus himself, that enigmatic and flawed human being, who, admire or despise him, is one of perhaps only three individuals in all of our long past who, by themselves, for good or ill, personally altered the course of Western history."
If you're unable to plan a quick trip to see them so soon don't fret. Their next stop is Muskogee, OK from Nov. 22nd-Dec. 3rd, 2017.
The Niña and Pinta are at 4609 Riverfront Drive in Fort Smith. They’ll dock near Muskogee at 5201 Three Forks Road in Fort Gibson, OK.
For more information about the ships and tour, you can visit their site.
Did you get the chance to visit the ships? What were your first impressions? Share your experience with us in the comments below!
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