Christopher Columbus set sail on the Santa Maria in the late 15th century, in search of a direct route to the Indies.

The Santa Maria was actually the flagship of a three-ship fleet that also included the Pinta and the Niña. All three ships set sail from the Spanish port of Palos on 3rd August 1492.

The Santa Maria was the largest (and slowest) of the fleet and most experts agree that its length probably exceeded 30 metres. It was a “nao” ship, also known as a “carrack” ship, meaning that the ship would have boasted three or four masts, a high stern and had a depth of at least three metres.

After stocking up on provisions at the Canary Islands, the Santa Maria and her accompanying ships embarked on a five-week journey at sea, without sight of land. The crew were overjoyed when they finally sighted land – the Bahamas – on 12th October 1492.

The Santa Maria, the Pinta and the Niña spent over two months exploring the islands of the area, until the Santa Maria ran aground on Haiti and the ship was disassembled to build a fortress that would guard the island’s first Spanish settlement.

There are now several replicas of the Santa Maria around the world, including the Santa Maria in Ohio, USA, which has been open to visitors since 1992.