The Santa Maria

The Santa Maria was a famous wooden ship from long ago. Christopher Columbus sailed it across the Atlantic Ocean in 1492. It was the biggest of his three ships. The other two were called the Nina and the Pinta. The Santa Maria helped bring Columbus to the Americas.

The Ship and Its Crew

The Santa Maria was about 70 feet long. It had three tall masts with big square sails. About 40 sailors lived and worked on board. The ship carried food, water, and supplies for the long trip. Columbus used the Santa Maria as his main ship during the voyage.

Christopher Columbus stands proudly on his ship the Santa Maria.
Christopher Columbus stands proudly on his ship the Santa Maria. (Emanuel Leutze / Wikimedia Commons)

The End of the Santa Maria

The ship sailed for many weeks across the ocean. It reached the Caribbean islands in October 1492. Sadly, the Santa Maria ran into rocks near the island of Hispaniola. The ship was wrecked and could not be fixed. Columbus used wood from the ship to build a small fort.

Fun Facts

  • The Santa Maria had a small room at the back just for the captain.
  • Sailors slept on the deck because there were no beds for them.
  • The ship's real name may have been La Gallega.

Did You Know?

No one knows exactly where the wreck of the Santa Maria is today. People have been searching the ocean for it for many years.