Exploring a Nation of Columbus Celebrations

Columbus, the pleasantly folksy capital of Ohio, claims to be the largest city in the world bearing the name of the famous mariner--which explains why it is organizing what is expected to be the nation’s premier tribute to Christopher Columbus on the 500th anniversary of his first voyage to the New World. The 6-month-long extravaganza, called AmeriFlora ‘92, may be the next-best thing to a world’s fair.

The official World’s Fair next year is being held, of course, in Seville, Spain, but Columbus’ mini-version should do quite nicely, thank you, for travelers unwilling to make the expensive transatlantic trip.

Occupying an 88-acre city park two miles east of downtown Columbus, the $95-million exposition will combine an international flower show, an offbeat cultural festival and an exotic food fair, among other things, in one big gala beginning April 20 and concluding Oct. 12. The theme is “Columbus ‘92: A World to Discover.”

Elsewhere in the United States, at least 21 cities on the Atlantic, Gulf and Pacific coasts are preparing to welcome the Nina, the Pinta and the Santa Maria--the Spanish-built replicas of Columbus’ fleet of tiny caravels, which first spied land in the New World on Oct. 12, 1492. Already en route, the latter-day vessels are scheduled to dock first on Feb. 14 (weather permitting) in Miami, where they will be escorted into the harbor by a parade of 10,000 sail and power boats.

The many U.S. events commemorating Columbus’ voyage are as diverse as the nation itself and include major museum exhibits, tall ship rallies, historical symposiums, new Spanish heritage statuary, classical concerts, art shows, athletic events, dance performances and giant parades. A number of national parks are planning special visitor center exhibits reflecting on Spanish exploration and colonization. These events will be taking place from now through the end of 1992 and even into 1993.

In addition to Columbus, Ohio, and Miami, major commemorative programs are planned in San Francisco; New York; Boston; Philadelphia; Memphis, Tenn., and Corpus Christi, Tex., which will erect a new, 9-foot-tall statue of Columbus this year.

Some of the nation’s commemorative events honor Spain, whose monarchs, Isabella and Ferdinand, financed Columbus’ voyages and won an empire, and others focus on Italy, the country of his birth. An official state-by-state calendar of Columbus-related happenings in the United States is being compiled on computer by the Christopher Columbus Quincentenary Jubilee Commission in Washington.

Many of the quincentennial events are still months away, and in many cases planning is still tentative and subject to change. Nor has all the necessary financing been arranged. But based on current information, these are among the most significant Columbus festivities scheduled for the months ahead.

An international floral show in Columbus, Ohio--AmeriFlora ‘92--will run for only two weeks, beginning on opening day, April 20. But at least 12 nations are installing traditional gardens that also will be on display until the fair closes Oct. 12. Japan, for example, will create a tea garden, and Russia is planting a typical country garden that might be found adorning a summer dacha. And 20 of this country’s most novel gardening ideas--among them a water garden--will be created in a sprawling exhibit called “America’s Backyard.”

A major presentation will be “Seeds of Change,” a spinoff of the exhibit at the Smithsonian Institution’s National Museum of Natural History that traces the impact of Columbus’ voyages on both the old and the new worlds. At AmeriFlora, the focus will be on how the Midwest was affected. It opens May 31. In addition, General Motors, which has created a wide-screen film presentation for the U.S. pavilion at Expo ’92 in Seville, will show the same feature at AmeriFlora.

Exotic foods will tempt at the “Taste of Nations” food court. Jugglers, magicians, clowns and other street performers will roam the entire fair site, and stage entertainment will be provided by marching bands, choirs, jazz ensembles, orchestras, dance troupes, drill teams and other groups from throughout the country. Daily admission to AmeriFlora is $19.95 for adults and $9.95 for children ages 4-12.

Among the U.S. cities planning major Columbus quincentennial programs:

--San Francisco: The caravels will be in San Francisco during the Columbus Day weekend, Oct. 10-12, and the city is taking advantage of their presence with a gala nautical celebration. There will be an international naval review featuring modern naval vessels, a tall ships rally, the largest fireworks display ever on the West Coast and a re-enactment of the landing of Columbus.

--Philadelphia: A yearlong celebration under the title “Neighbors in the New World” culminates in a giant parade Sunday, Oct. 11, led by Grand Marshal Luciano Pavarotti, the opera star. Earlier, the Philadelphia Flower Show, March 8-15, will feature a garden and courtyard from the Spanish-influenced American Southwest. And throughout next year, the Franklin Institute Science Museum is offering an exhibit on navigational tools and ship artifacts.

--New York: The big weekend here is the Fourth of July, when the three Columbus caravels are in town. The city will also play host to a gathering of tall ships. A major fireworks display and an outdoor concert are being planned.

--Memphis: Each year, the Memphis in May International Festival honors a different foreign country. This year, the country is Italy. Throughout the month, more than 100 events or exhibits are scheduled, including a show of Italian paintings, another of Etruscan artifacts, an Italian wine- and food-tasting festival and a “Viva Italia” pops concert May 2.

--Miami: On Feb. 14, the arrival of the Columbus caravels will be celebrated with a parade of 10,000 pleasure craft. Other Spanish heritage programs, including concerts and seminars, are being planned throughout the year.

While in port, the ships will be open to visitors. The U.S. itinerary has been arranged by the Spain ’92 Foundation, a Washington-based organization established by Spain to develop cultural and educational programs in this country related to the Columbus quincentennial.

Weather permitting, the caravels will call at the following U.S. ports: Miami, Feb. 14 to March 1; Corpus Christi, Tex., March 13-22; Galveston, Tex., March 25-29; New Orleans, April 3-5; Tampa, Fla., April 10-19; St. Augustine, Fla., April 25-27; Charleston, S.C., May 1-3; Norfolk, Va., May 8-10; Baltimore, May 15-25; Annapolis, Md., May 27-29; Philadelphia, June 6-14; Wilmington, Del., June 16-17; Atlantic City, N.J., June 19-21; New York, June 26 to July 19; New London and Mystic, Conn., July 24-26; and Boston, July 31 to Aug. 16.

From there, the vessels will be transported via the Panama Canal to the West Coast, according to David Nowland, a spokesman for the Spain ’92 Foundation. The fleet will then resume its voyage, docking in San Francisco from Oct. 2-25; San Luis Obispo, Oct. 30 to Nov. 1; Los Angeles, Nov. 6-29; San Juan Capistrano, Dec. 4-6, and San Diego, Dec. 11-20. Eventually, the ships will be placed on permanent exhibit in the United States at a place yet to be determined.

The Christopher Columbus Quincentenary Jubilee Commission maintains a computer list of upcoming Columbus-related events on a state-by-state basis. Information about an individual state’s events is available at no charge by contacting the commission at 1801 F St. N.W., Washington, D.C. 20006, (202) 632-1992.

Spain ’92 Foundation: For the latest information on the itinerary of the Columbus caravels, contact the Spain ’92 Foundation at 1821 Jefferson Place N.W., Washington, D.C. 20036, (202) 775-1992.