Some Chillicothe residents found an unfamiliar site at the foot of Walnut Street this morning — two replicas of boats used by Christopher Columbus in discovering the New World.
The Niña and the Pinta docked in Chillicothe to pick up members of the media for a three-hour trip to Peoria, where the boats will be in port for the weekend.
Residents may see the inside of the boats beginning at 9 a.m. Friday at the Riverplex Landing, near the Spirit of Peoria, until their departure early Monday morning.
Without the use of power tools, the Niña was built by hand and is considered to be the most historically correct Columbus replica ever built, according to a press release.
The Pinta was recently built in Brazil and is a larger version of the archetypal caravel. It also has an air-conditioned main cabin below deck and is available for private parties.
While in port, the general public are invited to visit the ships for a walk-aboard, self-guided tour. Admission for a walk-aboard, self-guided tour is $7 for adults, $6 for seniors, and $5 for students ages 5 to 16. Children ages 4 and under are free. The ships are open every day from 9 a.m. to 6 p.m.
Teachers or organizations with a minimum of 15 per group may schedule a 30-minute guided tour with a crew member by calling (787) 672-2152 and leave a message. Cost is $4 per person.
For more information, visit the website at www.thenina.com.
