1. Why do we Celebrate Columbus Day ? Columbus Day is celebrated in the United States to honor Christopher Columbus's first voyage to America in 1492. Columbus actually discovered America on October 12 th , 1492, but Columbus Day is always celebrated on the the second Monday of October.
2. Columbus Day It has been traditionally celebrated on Oct. 12 throughout most of the United States, parts of Canada, and in several of the Latin American republics. In the United States, however, since the observation in 1971 of the Uniform Holiday Act, it is celebrated on the Monday nearest to Oct. 12.
3. Who is Christopher Columbus ? Christopher Columbus is the explorer who got credit for discovering America in 1492. That is why we call it “Columbus Day”.
4. Christopher Columbus ’s Voyage The voyage in 1492 was Columbus ’s first voyage. Columbus wanted to discover an easier route to the East that would open up trading.
5. Columbus ’s Voyage Picture from the website: http://www1.minn.net/~keithp/v1.htm
6. Christopher Columbus ’s Ships He had three ships, the Nina, the Pinta and the Santa Maria. The Santa Maria was the largest ship. It could carry about 40 people and 20 tons of cargo. The Nina and Pinta carried about 24 people and 60 tons each. Replicas of Columbus ’ ships. They sailed in 1992
8. Living Conditions You would work in four-hour shifts doing things cleaning the deck, working the sails and checking the ropes and cargo. When you weren ’t working, you would sleep anywhere you found space. You would receive only one hot meal a day and your diet would be biscuits, pickled or salted meat, dried peas, cheese, wine, and fresh-caught fish.
