On my visit to the Columbus Lighthouse in Santo Domingo, Dominican Republic, I wondered what could possibly have inspired such an immense outpouring of ugly cement, but as I was introduced to the history and purpose behind the building my approval grew. The museum and memorial in honor of the 500 year anniversary of Christopher Columbus' landing in the Dominican Republic is actually a storehouse of culture dedicated to showing what life in the Americas was like in 1492. The secondary purpose, of shining a large cross into the night sky is now limited to special occasions. Read more about the history of the Columbus Lighthouse here. The interior contains models of the Nina, Pinta and Santa Maria (see photo left).
In the base of the cross are rooms storing collections of artifacts produced by the people of the American countries including this one to the left provided by Venezuela.
This makes this museum quite useful to students studying Pre-Columbian peoples.
This makes this museum quite useful to students studying Pre-Columbian peoples.
The Dominican Republic provided a number of artifacts for the collection including a box containing the purported ashes of Christopher Columbus, Taino artifacts (read about the end of the Taino's here), and from the mass celebrated by Pope John Paul II.
Taino artifact shown in the photograph to the left.
Artifacts from the mass by Pope John Paul II below.
Taino artifact shown in the photograph to the left.
Artifacts from the mass by Pope John Paul II below.
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