WASHINGTON TRIP: CHRISTOPHER COLUMBUS MEMORIAL FOUNTAIN AT UNION STATION
Columbus Memorial Fountain
Washington, D.C.
Photo by John White (2011)
Washington, D.C. (JFK+50) On this the anniversary of the landing of Christopher Columbus at San Salvador, it is appropriate to take a look at the Christopher Columbus Memorial Fountain which we visited last month at Washington's Union Station.
The Memorial was dedicated in 1912 & the dedication ceremony, held on June 8, was attended by President William Howard Taft.
Columbus Memorial Fountain
Photo by John White (2011)
The project was the work of American sculptor Lorado Taft & architect Daniel Burnham. The fountain was the work of Frederick MacMonnies.
The inscription on the memorial reads:
"To The Memory of Christopher Columbus Whose High Faith & Indomitable Courage Gave To Mankind a New World."*
*The Memorial is located at Massachusetts Avenue & 1st Street directly in front of Washington's Union Station.
Jennifer at the Columbus Memorial
Washington, D.C.
Photo by John White (2011)
October 12, 1492
COLUMBUS MAKES LANDING AT SAN SALVADOR
San Salvador (JFK+50) Explorer Christopher Columbus, sailing on behalf of Queen Isabella & King Ferdinand of Spain, made landfall today after a long voyage across the Atlantic Ocean.
Columbus, born in Genoa, Italy, went ashore & claimed the land for the Spanish Crown. He named the island, which he believes is somewhere off the coast of the East Indies, San Salvador or Holy Savior.*
*Columbus actually had landed in the Bahamas but since the existence of the Americas was unknown at the time, he incorrectly assumed he was somewhere off the coast of Asia.
Christopher Columbus
By Sebastiano del Piombo (1519)
October 12, 1961
JFK MAKES PRESIDENTIAL VISIT TO NORTH CAROLINA
Raleigh, North Carolina (JFK+50) President John F. Kennedy made an autumn visit to North Carolina today.
JFK arrived at the Raleigh-Durham Airport where he was greeted by Governor Terry Sanford.
The President then traveled to Charlotte where he opened the North Carolina Trade Fair.
Then he spoke at Kenan Stadium at the University of North Carolina in Chapel Hill.
JFK said:
"North Carolina has long been identified with enlightened & progressive leaders & people & I can think of no more important reason for that reputation than this university."
The President was then presented with an honorary degree.*
*JFK's Secretary of Commerce, Luther Hodges, a long-time Chapel Hill resident, accompanied the President.
President John F. Kennedy
University of North Carolina
Chapel Hill
www.chapelhillmemories.com
From Chapel Hill, JFK traveled to Fort Bragg where, as "Commander-in-Chief", he inspected the 82nd Airborne Division, spoke to the troops & observed a military demonstration.**
**Before visiting Fort Bragg, JFK had issued an authorization making the "Green Beret" a part of the uniform of the US Special Forces.
October 12, 1960
KHRUSHCHEV POUNDS SHOE AT UN
New York City (JFK+50) In one of the most bizarre scenes of the Cold War, Soviet Premier Nikita Khrushchev today pounded his shoe on a table in protest to a speech being given critical of Soviet policy.
In attempting a call to order, General Assembly President Frederick Boland of Ireland broke his gavel.
It was that kind of day at the United Nations.
Khrushchev Pounds Shoe at the U.N.
October 12, 1964
SOVIETS LAUNCH 1ST MULTI-CREW SPACECRAFT
Moscow, USSR (JFK+50) The USSR took a leap forward today in the space race by successfully launching Voskhod I, the 1st spacecraft to carry more than one crewman into space.
The Voskhod I is scheduled for a 2 day mission in orbit around the earth.
The cosmonauts on board are: Vladamir Komarov, Konstantin Feoktistov & Boris Yegorov.
October 12, 1870
ROBERT E. LEE DIES IN LEXINGTON, VIRGINIA
Lexington, Virginia (JFK+50) Former Confederate General Robert Edward Lee passed away at his home today here in Lexington, Virginia.
Lee, born at Stafford Hall, Virginia in 1807, was 63 years old.
General Lee, a graduate of West Point Academy, turned down President Lincoln's offer to command United States troops in the Civil War.
Lee explained to the President that he could not "raise his sword" against his native state of Virginia.
Then, in 1861, when Virginia seceded from the Union, Lee resigned from the Army of the United States to join the Army of the Confederacy.
Robert E. Lee Monument
Lee Chapel
Lexington, Virginia
Photo by Jan Kronsell (2000)
