Have you ever wondered what it would be like to be welcomed aboard the ships Christopher Columbus used for his historic voyage in 1492? While the fate of the original vessels remains unknown, history buffs will have the opportunity to explore replicas of the Niña and Pinta in Alabama and Tennessee over the remainder of the year. From touring the decks to walking through the floating museum, this unique experience offered by Sanger Ships LLC is one you will not want to miss.
Although the original Niña was the smallest of Columbus’ three ships, the Niña replica will be the highlight of your tour as the most historically accurate Columbus replica ship ever built. It will give you a sense of the conditions the navigator and his men endured as they sailed the vessel thousands of miles before discovering the New World. As for the Pinta, this slightly larger ship was also built 15 feet longer and 8 feet wider than the original to accommodate more guests and provide more deck space for self-guided and group tours. The ship is also available for private parties and charters, complete with seating and air conditioning in the main cabin.
The museum is open every day from 9:00 AM to 5:00 PM in each city where the ships are docked. Tickets will provide patrons access to both ships and cost $10.00 for adults, $9.00 for seniors (60+); $8.00 for students (ages 5-18) and the military, and free for children ages four and under. Please keep in mind that Sanger Ships does not receive any funding from government agencies or private entities, so the program is supported entirely by these ticket fees.
As for the port schedule, the Niña and Pinta will dock in the following cities over the next four months:
| DATES | PORT | LOCATION |
| Jul 26 – Aug 18 Thu, Fri, Sat, Sun CLOSED Mon, Tue, Wed | Guntersville, AL | Guntersville City Harbor 39 Paddle Wheel Drive Guntersville, AL 35976 |
| 23 Aug – 8 Sep | Huntsville, AL | Ditto Landing Marina 293 Ditto Landing Rd SE Huntsville, AL 35803 |
| 13 Sep – 16 Sep | Ten Mile, TN | Euchee Marina 200 Euchee Ln Ten Mile, TN 37880 |
| 20 Sep – 6 Oct | Knoxville, TN | Calhoun’s On The River 400 Neyland Dr Knoxville, TN 37902 |
| 9 Oct – 13 Oct | Lenoir City, TN | Fort Loudon Marina 5200 City Park Dr Lenoir City, TN 37772 |
| 18 Oct – 3 Nov | Chattanooga, TN | Chattanooga Pier Public Fishing Dock Ross’s Landing Chattanooga, TN 37402 |
| 7 Nov – 12 Nov | Scottsboro, AL | Goose Pond Colony Resort 417 Ed Hembree Dr Scottsboro, AL 35769 |
| 15 Nov – 24 Nov | Guntersville, AL | Guntersville City Harbor 39 Paddle Wheel Drive Guntersville, AL 35976 |
Knoxville and Chattanooga are perhaps the most well-known cities on the itinerary, with tours available from September 20th to October 6th in “K-Town” and October 18th to November 3rd in the “Scenic City.” October is Italian American Heritage Month, so touring the Niña and Pinta in one of these locations would be a great way to celebrate since Columbus was technically the first immigrant from Italy to journey across the Atlantic Ocean. Additionally, if you’d like to tour the vessels on the anniversary of Columbus’ landing on October 12th, the ships will be docked in Lenoir City (just outside of Knoxville) from October 9th to October 13th.
For any additional questions, please refer to the FAQ section of Sanger Ships LLC’s website here.
