This 1/48 scale model is of the Santa María, the flagship of Christopher Columbus’ first expedition across the Atlantic in 1492. It was built in the early 15th century in Spain and was a nau (or carrack), a type of sailing vessel known for its larger size which made it fitting for long voyages. The ship was captained by Columbus himself and included an additional crew of 38 sailors.During the journey, the Santa María suffered damage on Christmas Day in 1492 when it hit a sandbar off the coast of what is now Haiti. Unable to be repaired, Columbus ordered the crew to abandon the ship but salvage what they could. The timber was used to build a small fort called La Navidad, where some of the men were left behind while Columbus returned to Spain. Despite its fate, the Santa María remains one of the most famous ships in the era of trans-oceanic exploration in the late 15th and 16th centuries.