Santa Maria 72cm

The Santa Maria holds a significant place in maritime history as the flagship of Christopher Columbus during his historic voyage across the Atlantic in 1492. This iconic ship, along with the Niña and the Pinta, played a pivotal role in the Age of Exploration, leading to the eventual discovery of the Americas. The Santa Maria, with its sturdy construction and advanced navigational capabilities for its time, symbolizes the daring and adventurous spirit of early explorers.

A meticulously handcrafted model of the Santa Maria captures the intricate details of this historic vessel. From the robust wooden hull to the billowing sails and intricate rigging, each element is crafted with precision to reflect the ship’s original design. Displaying this model honors the legacy of the Santa Maria and celebrates a crucial chapter in the history of exploration, making it a perfect addition to any maritime collection.

Key Features of the handcrafted Santa Maria Model Ship:

• Dimensions: 72cmL x 27cm W x 66cmH, 1:50 Scale. Fully assembled upon arrival & ready for you to display.
• Designed using real plans of the Santa Maria ship, ensuring the model is accurate.
• Entirely built by hand, with every piece of wood and metal used made from scratch.
• All anchors, fixtures, chains, ladders etc. made from appropriate material.
• No plastic used – this Santa Maria model ship only uses materials suitable for the real thing.
• Handcrafted and according to scale following official plans to help balance everything out.
• Comes with a solid wooden base that also has a name plate attached for easy identification.
• Laminated sheet provided that gives you details about your Santa Maria model ship for display.

Cabinet display is also available, not only make your models a centrepiece; they ensure that they will remain just as beautiful in many years’ time.

The History of the Santa Maria Ship

The Santa Maria is one of the most famous ships in maritime history, renowned as the flagship of Christopher Columbus during his historic voyage in 1492. Originally named La Gallega, the Santa Maria was a modestly sized carrack, or nao, approximately 70 feet long with a beam of 25 feet. Though not particularly large or fast, it was chosen for its sturdy construction, which made it well-suited for long ocean voyages.

In the summer of 1492, Columbus set sail from Palos de la Frontera, Spain, with three ships: the Santa Maria, the Niña, and the Pinta. The goal of the expedition was to find a new route to Asia by sailing westward across the Atlantic. The Santa Maria served as the flagship, commanded directly by Columbus.

On October 12, 1492, after weeks at sea and great tension among the crew, land was finally sighted. The fleet had arrived in the Bahamas, marking the beginning of European exploration and colonization of the Americas. The Santa Maria played a central role in this historic moment, as Columbus made his first contact with the New World.

However, the Santa Maria’s journey ended abruptly. On Christmas Eve of 1492, it ran aground on a reef off the coast of present-day Haiti. Despite efforts to salvage the vessel, it was beyond repair and had to be abandoned. Columbus and his men used the remains of the ship to build a fort named La Navidad, the first European settlement in the New World, before continuing their voyage on the Niña and Pinta.

The legacy of the Santa Maria endures as a symbol of exploration and discovery. Its role in Columbus’s voyage marked a pivotal point in world history, opening up new frontiers and dramatically changing the course of global events. Today, the Santa Maria is remembered and celebrated through numerous replicas, models, and commemorations, reflecting its enduring impact on maritime history and exploration.