Christopher Columbus Visits Gate House

On a sunny day in October, Christopher Columbus visited the Gate House students during their lunch break. Columbus spoke about his desire to discover the Indies and find a land where spices were abundant. If Columbus could discover where spices grew, he would become rich beyond all measure because people in Spain, Portugal and France would pay high prices for exotic spices.

Columbus explained that even though he did not realize it at the time, he actually landed in the Caribbean, far from his original destination. Initially, he was elated with his discovery of the land he called the "Indies" and so was Queen Isabella of Spain. Columbus recalled his exciting and dangerous adventures crossing vast seas, his rise to fame, and his struggles at the end of his life. The Gate House students listened attentively and asked many questions during their "live" history lesson.