The Colombus Lighthouse

Columbus Lighthouse is a monument located in Santo Domingo Este, Dominican Republic, in tribute to Christopher Columbus.Construction began in 1986 using plans drawn by Scottish architect J.L. Gleave in 1931, in time for the 500th anniversary of the "Discovery of America" by Europeans, the monument was inaugurated in 1992. It was funded by the Latin American states and the total cost of construction was approximately US$70 million.The monument's lighthouse-style features projecting beams of light, forming a cross shape, which are so powerful they can be seen from neighboring Puerto Rico.Containing what are purported to be the remains of Columbus, the monument is both a mausoleum and a museum showcasing objects including a boat from Cuba and Colombian jewelry. Constructed of concrete, the monument is 680ft long. Its architecture is cross-shaped and represents the Christianization of America.ArchitectureThe Columbus Lighthouse is a cross-shaped monument made of reinforced concrete. Its dimensions are 680ft by 195ft. There are 157 beams of light that emanate towards the sky from the structure and a rotating beam, which can be seen for miles.HistoryThe Dominican historian Antonio Delmonte y Tejada, in his book History of Santo Domingo, published in 1852, expressed the idea of erecting a monument in honor of Columbus in Santo Domingo. In 1914, the American Pulliam William Ellis began selling the idea of building a monumental beacon in the first city of the New World to the American press. The idea becomes universally accepted during the 1923 celebration of the Fifth International Conference in Chile, when it is decreed that this monument should be built in cooperation by all governments and peoples of America.

Tags : #TourAgency, #HistoryMuseum