Step Aboard The Most Famous Ships In History This Summer In Kentucky
By Andrea Limke|Published June 03, 2018
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Andrea Limke
Author
A Cincinnati native who has lived in Kentucky for over 10 years, Andrea's heart belongs both in the Queen City and the Bluegrass State. After earning an education degree and working in that field for a number of years, Andrea began to pursue her passion for writing over 6 years ago. Since then she has written for a number of print and online publications, as well as published a children's book.
Wandering through a museum is a great way to spend time in Kentucky, as our state has countless historic destinations that are filled with fascinating stories. If you are also intrigued by our country’s past, add this epic event to your calendar this summer. Replicas of Christopher Columbus’ famous ships, The Nina and The Pinta, are sailing into Kentucky this summer and there are plenty of chances to experience them firsthand. Step aboard the most famous ships in history and create a once-in-a-lifetime memory in the Bluegrass State this year.
"In 1492, Columbus sailed the ocean blue…" You probably learned this little rhyme in history class as a kid, as well as the names of Columbus’ three ships: The Nina, The Pinta, and The Santa Maria.
While the original ships are long gone, the Columbus Foundation has created incredible replicas of The Nina and The Pinta, and they are docking in Kentucky this year.
The Nina and The Pinta are floating museums that travel the Western Hemisphere and they will make their first appearance in Kentucky this summer in Grand Rivers in July.
The ships will dock at Green Turtle Bay Resort from July 20-29, 2018, and will be open for tours during those days. Green Turtle Bay Resort is known for its fantastic sunsets, and we can only imagine how pretty it will be with the addition of these incredible ships.
The Nina and The Pinta (shown above at another stop along their journey) will allow visitors to walk along to marvel at the amazing replicas or purchase tickets to come aboard for a self-guided tour.
General Admission to board the ships is $8.50 for adults, $7.50 for seniors (age 60+), $6.50 for children ages 5-16, and free for children 4 and under.
The ships will be open for tours from 9 a.m. to 6 p.m. each day, and no reservations are required.
A ticket gains you access to both ships, and you'll step back in time to 1492 when Christopher Columbus and his crew sailed these beauties over 25,000 miles.
As you walk along the narrow deck and look out on the lake, imagine sailing to an unknown world, in the middle of the vast sea with crashing waves and no promise of tomorrow. The staff and crew are around to answer any questions you may have. If you have a large group, guided tours with the knowledgeable staff members can be arranged ahead of time.
The Columbus Foundation designed The Nina as the most historically accurate Columbus replica ship ever built. The Pinta was built soon after and is also used for private parties and charters.
It's a breathtaking sight to see these ships on the water, and even more unimaginable to step aboard.
After their visit to Grand Rivers, The Nina and The Pinta will also visit Owensboro, Louisville, Newport, Ashland, and Maysville throughout the remainder of the year.
You can view the complete schedule on the website (linked below). No matter where you are in Kentucky, these historic ships will be arriving near you soon, and you'll want to take advantage of this unique opportunity to step back in time as you step aboard two of history's most famous ships.
It’s pretty remarkable that these historic ships have been recreated for us to experience today, and it’s especially exciting that you can step aboard both of them in Kentucky this year. Will you attend these unique floating history museums? Share your thoughts with us in the comments!
You can find more information about the first event in July in Grand Rivers on Facebook here. For more on the ships and their other Kentucky destinations, visit The Nina & Pinta Columbus Ships website here.