Out of failure to find a westward route to Asia came the discovery of a New World by Italian-born Christopher Columbus. The United States celebrated the 500th anniversary of his first voyage to this continent in many ways, including these four stamp designs. Columbus's ships the Nina, the Pinta, and the Santa Maria, were outfitted at the port of Palos, Spain. He took the Santa Maria as his command ship. Martin Alonzo Pinzon received command of the Pinta, and his younger brother Vincente Yanez Pinzon commanded the Nina. The fleet left Palos August 3, 1492, and made landfall the morning of October 12, 1492, at one of the Bahamas.