Plan Your Adventure!
Hours, rates & directions -- everything you need to know to plan your adventure.
Experience History, First-Hand!
Tour the world's most authentic, museum-quality replica of Christopher Columbus' flagship.
Host Your Next Event at The Santa Maria!
Corporate and Group meetings, outings, functions, ship rentals and overnights.
Learning Adventure of a Lifetime!
Group and school tours create a wonderful opportunity for visitors to experiencehistory for themselves!
Welcome aboard the most incredible overnight adventure in History!
Challenge yourself aboard the Santa Maria for a night of adventure exploring the life of a 15th century sailor!
Special Events At and Around The Santa Maria!
Special Events abound at the Santa Maria and the surrounding downtown area.
Review Photos, Sketches and Historical Documentation!
Browse Santa Maria photos, sketches and historical documentation.
Browse and Patronize Our Sponsors!
Find out more about the organizations and individuals that keep the Santa Maria an historic centerpiece of the downtown district.


A Special Thank You
Maintenance funding is covered in part from a grant through the Gordon Chandler Memorial Fundof The Columbus Foundation.

An additional Thank You goes to Sherwin-Williamsfor donating the paint for the ship.


Visit the Santa Maria Facebook Page. Don't forget to Like Us!

THE WORLD WAS FOREVER CHANGEDwhen, in 1492, Christopher Columbus set sail searching for a direct trade route to the Indies. Carrying him was the Santa Maria, a 98-foot wooden "nao", or typical cargo ship.

More than 500 years later, you can tour the world's most authentic, museum-quality replica of Christopher Columbus' flagship. Guided tours dramatize the daring and determination it took for these explorers to set out on their mission. Fascinating displays show the far-ranging impact of the encounter of two worlds that existed in 1492.

FRANKLIN COUNTY NEIGHBORHOOD ART GRANT!
A special thank you goes out to the Ohio Alliance for Art Education and Arts in Ohio for the Franklin County Neighborhood Art Grant to sponsor our 10th Annual Gospel Sail-a-Bration!

VOLUNTEER OPPORTUNITIES- More Info & Application
Teen Tour Guides:Must be at least 13 years of age. Must work two weekends a month and at least one day a week during the summer. Give tours to the public. A good opportunity to develop communication skills.
Adult Tour Guides:18 years of age or older, must have a background check. Give tours to the public. Weekend and weekday opportunities are available.
Maintenance Volunteers:Must have a background check. Should have some wood working skills but not required. Available to work on weekends. Some projects can be done at home or in the maintenance building i.e. prop repairs, refinishing blocks and tackles etc. Painting and cleaning are also part of the maintenance work.
Grant Writers:Must have experience in Searching and writing grants. Help find funds to operate and/or restore/repair the ship or enhance our current programming etc.
Fundraising:Have experience in fundraising. Seek out opportunities for the ship.

COMMUNITY SERVICE OPPORTUNITIES- More Info & Application
Clean-up around the park and waterways:Pick up trash from the park area, sweep the pavement down by the ship, and clean the waterway using the canoe to reach floating debris. No age requirement. Half a day’s work. Needs to be done in late March, early June and in September.
Ship clean-up:Washing down the ship decks. Cleaning the scuppers (drains along the ship’s decks) and along the ribs of the ship with a toothbrush to remove any deposits. Spider web removal from the decks and deck supports. Minor ship repairs or painting. All ages. Half day of work. Needs to be done monthly.
Maintenance and Repairs:The things that need to be done vary greatly from time to time. Some require wood working skills; some are labor intensive i.e. such as caulking the decks Length of time can fluctuate according to the job. This is an ongoing job.
Event Workers:We hold events through out the season, some requiring help to set up or take down tables, chairs, tents etc. or work concession stands. Contact the office or email us about current opportunities. During the Columbus Arts Festival and Navigation Sunday we need scouts to help with making wooden boats for young kids. No age requirements.

HELP KEEP THE SANTA MARIA SHIP/MUSEUM AFLOAT!
Help the Santa Maria stay afloat in this difficult economic climate. School tours and Overnight programming have suffered due to the recession and cuts in school budgets. In order to continue offering guided tours, educational in-depth programming and diversity events on a full-size preservation such as ours, continuous maintenance is necessary. The rising cost of restoration and preservation combined with a loss of grant money, declining numbers of school tours and Overnight participants has taken a toll on our budget.

Our ask is twofold:
1) Send us a minimum of $10.00:
Checks made out to Columbus Santa Maria Inc., 1111 East Broad Street LL, Columbus, OH 43205 or call the ship during normal business hours, Wednesday thru Friday from 10-3 PM, Saturday and Sunday from noon-5pm. We can do a Visa or MasterCard transaction over the phone or you can fill out the donation formhere on the Web site.

2) Forward this request in an email to everyone you know who might have an interest in the Santa Maria, ships, in history or education.

Thank you.
The Santa Maria Staff and Board

ALL HANDS ON DECK!
Adult and teen volunteers are needed. For a fun, educational experience, the Santa Maria is looking for tours guides, special event volunteers, carpenters, and maintenance people. Volunteer application available in Adobe PDFFormat.

CHILDREN'S PIRATE BIRTHDAY PARTY!
The Santa Maria pirate party is an absolute one-of-a-kind birthday experience that no child will ever forget. Complete with games, a tour of the ship, pirate hats, goody bags, cake and punch, this one and a half hour children's party is an incredible bargain at just $295.00 for up to 20 guests.

Children under the age of 8 must be accompanied by an adult. Each additional child is $15. Call 614.645.8760 for more information and to reserve your birthday date...TODAY!

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Santa Maria 2013
Calendar of Events
April
3 Season Opening Day: 10-3pm
6-7 Opening Weekend:Noon-5 PM All tours $2, under the age of 5 is free.
7 Season Opening Ceremony:with opening ceremonies starting at noon. The local chapter of Sea Cadets will present a flag raising ceremony along with patriotic music and cannon fire. The Hard Tackers group will entertain our visitors with Sea Chanties from 1-2pm.
May
18, 19 Pirates Weekend:Pirate re-enactors from around the country will take over the ship with an educational and fun look at Pirates during the 18th century. Historical information is provided by costumed pirate interpreters and the Santa Maria Staff as you take a self guided tour of the ship. Approximately 2 PM the Pirates will storm the ship with lots of gun fire and cannons. Romance your imagination with a little bit of family fun. Tours are $3 for youth 5-17, $4 for Adults and Seniors 60 plus are $3.50.
27 Memorial Day:Open 12nn-5pm
June
15 Gospel Sail-A-Bration:The Gospel-Sail-A-Bration is a diversity event showcasing talent from around the state, a fashion show and children’s activities 3-8 PM. The event is free.
July
3 Closed:for Red, White & Boom
4 4th of July:Open from 12nn-5pm
August
4 Navigation Sunday:We celebrate the beginning of Christopher Columbus’ first voyage from 12nn-6pm with a visit from the Columbus Zoo at 2pm.
September
2 Labor Day:Open from 12nn-5pm
13 Santa Maria Golf Benefit:Held at Mentel Memorial Golf Course. Sponsorships available. All monies received are used for ship maintenance.
More info to come...
21-22 Talk like a Pirate Weekend:Learn to talk the talk. Ask our pirate interpreters a question and they will give you all the historic information or just listen to them give accounts of the pirates from the 18th century. 11am-5pm each day.
October
11-14 Experience Columbus Days:Friday: 10am-3pm | Saturday: 12nn-5pm | Sunday: 12nn-5pm | Monday: 12nn-5pm.
20 Last Day of Regular Season
24-26 The HAuNtED SHiP:Every year at the end of October the ship takes on an eerie appearance as it is transformed into a “Haunted ship” and the tale of Captain Booney and his fated crew is told. A family friendly adventure thru the ship with a little Halloween fun for everyone. Tickets can be purchased in advance here on the web site or at the ticket booth before the nightly event.
This is a family friendly adventure guaranteeing a little “boo” for all ages. The Santa Maria Ship Museum is located in Lower Battelle Riverfront Park 25 Marconi Blvd. in downtown Columbus, OH. The Haunted Ship is a fundraiser for the museum so no discounts or free passes apply. For more info contact us thru our office 614-645-8760, the Ship 614-645-0351, by emailor via Facebook: Santa Maria Floating Museum
more info
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Help keep the Santa Maria Afloat. Make a donation today!

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