Christopher Columbus, born in Italy, always dreamed of being a sailor. When he was 13, Christopher became a cabin boy. He sailed to many lands and became a captain.
For many years, Columbus asked kings and queens to give him money for food and ships so he could find a new route to China and India.
Finally King Ferdinand and Queen Isabella of Spain gave him money. In return he promised to give them new lands, spices, and new people to become Christians.
Columbus had three ships: the Nina, the Pinta, and the Santa Maria. They left Spain in August, 1492.
On October 12th, after two months of a difficult journey, the Pinta first spotted land. Columbus called this land San Salvador. No one knows the exact location of the landing spot, but it is often thought to be an island in what is now called the Bahamas.
In the late 18th century, many countries started celebrating the anniversary of Christopher Columbus's arrival in the Americas on October 12, 1492.