Video: Replicas Of “Nina” And “Pinta” Dock In Fulton

[syndicaster id=’6092393′]

FULTON, Miss.  (WCBI) — We have all heard about the discovery of the “New World” when Christopher Columbus sailed the seas with his fleet of ships.

Recently, replicas of two of the famous ships docked in our area.

It is a hands on history lesson for this homeschool group.

Full size replicas of Columbus’ ships, the Nina and the Pinta, are on display at Midway Marina in Fulton.

“They’re floating museums.” said First Mate Gus Kodros.  He is part of the crew that travels with the two ships. The Nina was built by hand and without the use of power tools. It is the most historically correct Columbus Replica ever built. The ‘Pinta’ was recently built in Brazil and is a larger version of the original ship.

While both the Nina and The Pinta have modern engines, visitors can see the tiller, which helped guide the ships in Columbus’ Day.

“The steering wheel wasn’t invented yet, and they had a tiller, had to move it back, left and right to move the ship,” said Carson Phelps, a homeschooler who toured the ships.

Visitors also learn how the original crew members lived.

“They say there were 24 on the Nina and 26 on the Pinta, both ships were the same type of vessel called a caravel. All the men ate, and slept on the deck, all the food and animals were down below in the cargo hold area,” Kodros said.

And cannons were only used for signaling other ships while at sea. Guests can also see and smell thepine tar, which coats the exterior of the wooden vessels.

Those who toured the ships say they learned a lot.

“I think it makes it really real, if you think about it, the kids can remember when they’re studying their textbook, it makes it come alive, they can remember touching the wood, remember looking at the compass, looking at how they viewed the charts and the maps,” said Brad Ligon.

“I think they were good, I even got this map you can get on the second boat. ”
Is it a treasure map?
“I don’t know, I haven’t opened it yet,” said Wilson Ligon.

At least one visitor remembered facts about Christopher Columbus from a song she learned in kindergarten.

Shae Miller’s father in law says going aboard the ships gives him even more appreciation for the lasting impact of Columbus’ first voyage across the Atlantic.

“I’m part Indian, but I could have never had the truth brought to me, but I thank God the truth came to the United States. That’s what made this great nation, the truth of the Gospel,” said Willis Miller.

The Nina and The Pinta are docked at Midway Marina through December Second.

For more information, go to www.thenina.com.