500 years later . . .

Celebrations of the historical moment when Columbus made landfall on the Bahama island of San Salvador in 1492 included the arrival of replicas of the three sailing ships that brought Christopher Columbus to the New World 500 years ago, sailing into New York Harbor on Friday 26th June 1992, beginning more than a week of festivities commemorating the voyage. 

In 1992, America discovers Columbus

22 years later . . .

By 2014 two of these replicas the Pinta and Santa Maria were rotting in the dry docks of a museum in Texas and later torn up and destroyed.

Colombus replica ships torn up in Corpus Christi

"The three replica ships sailed across the Atlantic in 1992 as a gift from Spain. They toured American ports and sailed into Corpus Christi Bay in 1993. What started out as a victory tour has ended up as a disaster of sorts. Neglected? I believe so. How soon we forget our history."

When this situation was reported in the news the Spanish Government was not best pleased. However the same story has been repeated in Spain. The Universal Exposition of Seville (Expo '92) took place from Monday, April 20 to Monday, October 12, 1992 on La Isla de La Cartuja (Cartuja Island), Seville, Spain. 

The theme for the Expo was "The Age of Discovery" and over 100 countries were represented. 

Expo'92 was organized to celebrate the 500th anniversary of the discovery of the Americas by Christopher Columbus (1492-1992). The exposition was to be jointly held with the City of Chicago, however, due to national, state, and local funding difficulties, Chicago did not accept the offer. 

Expo'92 Seville was widely known for its massive site, held at the Isla de la Cartuja, reputed site of reference for Columbus for his voyage to the New World, and required at least several days to visit most of the Pavilions. It was also known for its numerous spectacular gates and bridges, and the diversity of transport within the Expo site from bus to ferry boat, to cable car and monorail. It also gave an impressive architectural tour of the world, with many countries vying for the position of the most inventive or creative Pavilion structure - outstanding amongst these was the Pavilion of Japan - the world's largest wooden structure, the Pavilion of Morocco, a re-creation of a Moroccan Palace-Mansion, and the modernistic cube and sphere of the flagship Spanish Pavilion, to name a few. The most popular pavilions with visitors were those of Spain and Canada.

23 years later . . .

For urban explorers, it’s the kind of fascinating modern decay that has a beauty in its return to nature. I spent an afternoon checking it out.
   
This is that story.

499 Years Later . . .

Russell Means, an Oglala Lakota and a prominent voice in the struggle for indigenous rights, was the first national director of the American Indian Movement. 

"I hope to be remembered as a fighter, and as a patriot who never feared controversy - and not just for Indians. When I fight for my people’s right, when I protest government lies and illegal seizures and unlawful acts, I defend all Americans, even the bigoted and misguided." 

Russell Means (1939-2012) 

Raven Redbone