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John Manke is an active former Bay View resident who is involved in numerous neighborhood organizations, including the Bay View Historical Society, the Humboldt Park Fourth of July Association and the Shore Shore Farmers Market. He believes Bay View has a fine tradition in its past that we do not want to lose in the future.
Today we celebrate Columbus Day
On October 11th this year, we honor the memory of Christopher Columbus who discovered America in 1492. Although he was not the first to discover America, his voyages opened up our continent to Europeans. He went to Iceland to purchase the maps needed to come here. The Vikings had discovered our continent in about 1050. 18,000 years ago, during the the Great Ice Age, Europeans traveled along the vast ice covering the Atlantic Ocean and landed in the land near Virginia. They brought with them the famous Clovis Point arrow head. During a later short cold period of time, they were forced to head southwest to escape the great cold weather. In later years they met Indians who had come over from Asia. We also know that the Chinese were here as well as Japanese people. It is also thought that early people from Australia came to South America. DNA has been used to confirm these statements.
Thanks to Christopher Columbus, modern Europeans came to our continent and set up permanent settlements. Much of our early past is in debate, but the fact remains that Columbus begain the modern settlement of North and Central America. His sponsors, the Spanish people also explored South America and conquered the Inca Indians. Modern day America owes its history to these early explorers and conquerors. Christopher Columbus was Italian, therfore we also celebrate Italy and its people.
Have a happy Columbus Day.
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