THE Monument to Columbus in Punta del Sebo symbolizes the homage that the people of the United States pay to Spain in recognition of the “esteem that this country feels towards the nation whose generosity made possible the great discoveries of Christopher Columbus”as US President Herbert C. Hoover stated in his inauguration message.
That idea was born from the trip that the American lawyer William H. Page It took him in 1917 through different European countries. Upon arriving in Cádiz to embark for New York, he lost the ship, those ten days of waiting he invested in getting to know La Rábida and the Columbian Places. This traveler does not remain alone in what he sees, but promotes what he considers a debt to Christopher Columbus: erect a great monument to him at the place of departure.
The idea was disseminated in American lands, which materialized in the constitution of the Columbus Memorial Fund in celebration of the Columbus Day de 1926.
The sense of friendship prevails at all times, as Miss Whitney also emphasizes when speaking of the Columbus Memorial Fund. noting that “it was formed to show Spain the friendship, recognition and admiration of our country.”
Two committees are created, one executive that preside Alexandre P. Mooreand another of honor that heads the President of the United States Calvin Colidge, while by accessing the presidency Hoover will also show his support. It is made up of philanthropists, bankers, judges, lawyers, soldiers, politicians, bishops, companies or the media. They will be the catholic fraternal society Kingsth Columbus and companies like Int. Tel & Co or the owner The New York TimesAdolph S. Ochs.
Nothing is left to chance, with this plant you can understand the size of the company from the outset.
The funds will be channeled through the powerful banking organization Trust Company of North American. The American sculptress Gertrude Vanderbilt Whitney is designated for this monument. The idea looks at the Statue of Liberty, which presides over New York Bay. Here it will be a great monument in Punta del Sebo, in the great estuary that is the mouth of the Atlantic that the discovering ships crossed.
It stands on land offered by the JPort Works Councilpredecessor of the current Port Authority of Huelva, which presides Tomas Dominguez Ortiz. The engineering director, Francisco Montenegroand the engineer deputy director, José Albelda Albertwill be key to the success of the work.
It was not an easy undertaking, the help of the Count of Alba was necessary, especially interested in culture. King Alfonso XIII and the President of the Government, Primo de Rivera, will support the idea and show their gratitude for this gesture by the American people.
The inauguration on April 21, 1929 was a great event for Huelva for the repercussion it had not only in the national but international media. she turned hero back to this province in the year of the celebration of the Ibero-American Exhibition of Seville or the International Exhibition of Barcelona.
An act attended by the President of the Government, General Primo de Rivera, the Infante Don Carlos, the Duke of Alba Jacobo Fitz-James Stuart y Falcó, the local authorities headed by the mayor of Huelva, Guillermo Duclós López; the president of the Board of Works of the Port, Tomás Domínguez.
The archpriest and parish priest of La Concepción Pedro Román Clavero blessed the monument before an image of the Virgen de la Cinta.
A rainy day with marinería parade the American cruiser Raleigh and the Spanish Almirante Cervera.
Was lunch in a big tent and in the afternoon bullfight. The city lived in Punta del Sebo a memorable festive day with the participation of the entire city.
Miss Whitney he had given the best monumental interpretation of Christopher Columbus; to the corporeal sculpture of the navigator he added the spirit embraced on the cross. This is how Gertrude Vanderbilt Whitney defines it in the newspaper Sun in its presentation in Madrid on April 12, 1929:
“I have not wanted to represent only the corporeal figure of the discoverer of America, but also the spirit that impelled and encouraged him in his great enterprise: the faith-filled spirit of the Catholic Monarchs and the Spanish people. The Columbus of my statue symbolizes all the Christian civilization that with him penetrated into the virgin lands”.
More information:
Exhibition. Colon. Monument to Friendship among the Peoples of America. open at Port garagesweekdays, from 9:00 a.m. to 2:00 p.m. and from 4:30 p.m. to 6:30 p.m.