October 12: Christopher Columbus
On this date in 1492, Christopher Columbus first arrived in the Americas. In the United States, the event is celebrated as “Columbus Day” and falls on the second Monday in October. In 2018, the holiday will be celebrated on October 8. In 2019, it will fall on October 14.
Christopher Columbus Banner
Share this banner on social media to commemorate the arrival of Columbus in the Americas.
Young Columbus
Christopher Columbus learning to draw maps from the ClipArt ETC website.
Columbus Reading
Columbus reading Polo’s book from the ClipArt ETC website.
Christopher Columbus
Christopher Columbus from the ClipArt ETC website.
Portrait of Columbus
Christopher Columbus portrait from the ClipArt ETC website.
Departure
Parting of Columbus with Ferdinand and Isabella from the ClipArt ETC website.
Embarkation
Embarkation of Columbus at Palos from the ClipArt ETC website.
Setting Sail
Columbus’ fleet setting sail from Palos, from the ClipArt ETC website.
Banner
Banner of the expedition of Columbus from the ClipArt ETC website.
La Santa María
Columbus’ flagship from the ClipArt ETC website. There are no original drawings of Columbus’ ships, so all illustrations are guesses based on what was known about the size of the three ships.
La Niña
La Niña (Spanish for The Girl) was one of the three Spanish ships used by Italian explorer Christopher Columbus in his first voyage to the West Indies in 1492. As was tradition for Spanish ships of the day, she bore a female saint’s name, Santa Clara. However, she was commonly referred to by her nickname, La Niña, from the ClipArt ETC website.
La Pinta
La Pinta (Spanish for The Painted One , The Look, or The Spotted One ) was the fastest of the three ships used by Christopher Columbus in his first transatlantic voyage in 1492. Illustration from the ClipArt ETC website.
La Santa María
Another artist’s conception of the Santa María from the ClipArt ETC website.
Columbus Discovering Land
Illustration of Columbus sighting land in the New World from the ClipArt ETC website.
Columbus Claiming the Land
Columbus Claiming the Land from the ClipArt ETC website.
Raising the Cross
The raising of the Christian cross following the discovery of the New World from the ClipArt ETC website.
Return Voyage
Columbus’ return voyage from the ClipArt ETC website.
Columbus' Return
Columbus’ return from the ClipArt ETC website.
Triumphal Entry
The triumphal entry of Columbus into Barcelona from the ClipArt ETC website.
Royal Reception of Columbus
Columbus being received by King Ferdinand and Queen Isabella at Barcelona, after returning from the New World from the ClipArt ETC website.
Francisco de Bobadilla
Francisco de Bobadilla put Columbus in chains. Illustration from the ClipArt ETC website.
Death of Columbus
Illustration of the death of Christopher Columbus from the ClipArt ETC website.
Tomb of Columbus
Tomb of Columbus in Havana from the ClipArt ETC website.
Bartholomew Columbus
Bartholomew Columbus was an Italian explorer from Genoa and the younger brother of Christopher Columbus. Illustration from the ClipArt ETC website.
Ferdinand Columbus
Ferdinand Columbus, second son of Christopher Columbus from the ClipArt ETC website.
Statue on Genoa, Italy
A grand statue of Christopher Columbus stands tall in Genoa, Italy, from the ClipArt ETC website.
Columbus Memorial
Columbus Memorial in Washington, D.C., from the ClipPix ETC website.
Columbus Statue
Stern figure of Christopher Columbus, located outside of Union Station, Washington, D.C., from the ClipPix ETC website.
Columbian Half Dollar
Half Dollar (50 cents) United States coin from 1892. Obverse has the head of Columbus right-facing with the inscription from the ClipArt ETC website.
The New World
A facsimile of a map prepared by Bartholomew Columbus soon after the death of his brother the admiral (1506), to enlist the interest of the pope in his projects to colonize and Christianize Veragua. From the Maps ETC website.
Coat of Arms
Christopher Columbus’ coat of arms from the ClipArt ETC website.