For the Washington Daily News

 

Morehead City — On Thursday at 2 p.m., the ‘Pinta’ and the ‘Nina,’ replicas of Christopher Columbus’ ships will arrive in Morehead City. The ships will be docked at the Sanitary Fish Restaurant, 501 Evans St., until their departure early on the morning of May 5.

The media are invited to a private viewing of the ships on Thursday after docking. The ships open to the general public on April 25. The ‘Nina’ was built by hand and without the use of power tools and is considered to be the most historically correct Columbus Replica ever built. The ‘Pinta’ was recently built in Brazil and is a larger version of the archetypal caravel. Historians consider the caravel the Space Shuttle of the fifteenth century.

While in port, the general public is invited to visit the ships for a walk-aboard, self-guided tour. Admission charges are $8 for adults, $7 for seniors and $6 for students ages 5 through 16. Children ages 4 and under are free. The ships are open every day from 9 a.m. to 6 p.m. No reservations necessary.

Teachers or organizations wishing to schedule a 30-minute guided tour with a crew member should call 787-672-2152 or visit our website www.thenina.com, click on ‘Take a Tour’ and fill out online form. A minimum of 15 people is required at $5 per person. There is no maximum. Email columfnd1492@gmail.com. For more information, visit www.facebook.com/pages/columbus-ships.