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Christopher Columbus

By: History.com Editors

Updated: August 11, 2023 | Original: November 9, 2009

The explorer Christopher Columbus made four trips across the Atlantic Ocean from Spain: in 1492, 1493, 1498 and 1502. He was determined to find a direct water route west from Europe to Asia, but he never did. Instead, he stumbled upon the Americas. Though he did not “discover” the so-called New World—millions of people already lived there—his journeys marked the beginning of centuries of exploration and colonization of North and South America.

Christopher Columbus and the Age of Discovery

During the 15th and 16th centuries, leaders of several European nations sponsored expeditions abroad in the hope that explorers would find great wealth and vast undiscovered lands. The Portuguese were the earliest participants in this “ Age of Discovery ,” also known as “ Age of Exploration .”

Starting in about 1420, small Portuguese ships known as caravels zipped along the African coast, carrying spices, gold and other goods as well as enslaved people from Asia and Africa to Europe.

Did you know? Christopher Columbus was not the first person to propose that a person could reach Asia by sailing west from Europe. In fact, scholars argue that the idea is almost as old as the idea that the Earth is round. (That is, it dates back to early Rome.)

Other European nations, particularly Spain, were eager to share in the seemingly limitless riches of the “Far East.” By the end of the 15th century, Spain’s “ Reconquista ”—the expulsion of Jews and Muslims out of the kingdom after centuries of war—was complete, and the nation turned its attention to exploration and conquest in other areas of the world.

Early Life and Nationality 

Christopher Columbus, the son of a wool merchant, is believed to have been born in Genoa, Italy, in 1451. When he was still a teenager, he got a job on a merchant ship. He remained at sea until 1476, when pirates attacked his ship as it sailed north along the Portuguese coast.

The boat sank, but the young Columbus floated to shore on a scrap of wood and made his way to Lisbon, where he eventually studied mathematics, astronomy, cartography and navigation. He also began to hatch the plan that would change the world forever.

Christopher Columbus' First Voyage

At the end of the 15th century, it was nearly impossible to reach Asia from Europe by land. The route was long and arduous, and encounters with hostile armies were difficult to avoid. Portuguese explorers solved this problem by taking to the sea: They sailed south along the West African coast and around the Cape of Good Hope.

But Columbus had a different idea: Why not sail west across the Atlantic instead of around the massive African continent? The young navigator’s logic was sound, but his math was faulty. He argued (incorrectly) that the circumference of the Earth was much smaller than his contemporaries believed it was; accordingly, he believed that the journey by boat from Europe to Asia should be not only possible, but comparatively easy via an as-yet undiscovered Northwest Passage . 

He presented his plan to officials in Portugal and England, but it was not until 1492 that he found a sympathetic audience: the Spanish monarchs Ferdinand of Aragon and Isabella of Castile .

Columbus wanted fame and fortune. Ferdinand and Isabella wanted the same, along with the opportunity to export Catholicism to lands across the globe. (Columbus, a devout Catholic, was equally enthusiastic about this possibility.)

Columbus’ contract with the Spanish rulers promised that he could keep 10 percent of whatever riches he found, along with a noble title and the governorship of any lands he should encounter.

Where Did Columbus' Ships, Niña, Pinta and Santa Maria, Land?

On August 3, 1492, Columbus and his crew set sail from Spain in three ships: the Niña , the Pinta and the Santa Maria . On October 12, the ships made landfall—not in the East Indies, as Columbus assumed, but on one of the Bahamian islands, likely San Salvador.

For months, Columbus sailed from island to island in what we now know as the Caribbean, looking for the “pearls, precious stones, gold, silver, spices, and other objects and merchandise whatsoever” that he had promised to his Spanish patrons, but he did not find much. In January 1493, leaving several dozen men behind in a makeshift settlement on Hispaniola (present-day Haiti and the Dominican Republic), he left for Spain.

He kept a detailed diary during his first voyage. Christopher Columbus’s journal was written between August 3, 1492, and November 6, 1492 and mentions everything from the wildlife he encountered, like dolphins and birds, to the weather to the moods of his crew. More troublingly, it also recorded his initial impressions of the local people and his argument for why they should be enslaved.

“They… brought us parrots and balls of cotton and spears and many other things, which they exchanged for the glass beads and hawks’ bells," he wrote. "They willingly traded everything they owned… They were well-built, with good bodies and handsome features… They do not bear arms, and do not know them, for I showed them a sword, they took it by the edge and cut themselves out of ignorance. They have no iron… They would make fine servants… With fifty men we could subjugate them all and make them do whatever we want.”

Columbus gifted the journal to Isabella upon his return.

Christopher Columbus's Later Voyages

About six months later, in September 1493, Columbus returned to the Americas. He found the Hispaniola settlement destroyed and left his brothers Bartolomeo and Diego Columbus behind to rebuild, along with part of his ships’ crew and hundreds of enslaved indigenous people.

Then he headed west to continue his mostly fruitless search for gold and other goods. His group now included a large number of indigenous people the Europeans had enslaved. In lieu of the material riches he had promised the Spanish monarchs, he sent some 500 enslaved people to Queen Isabella. The queen was horrified—she believed that any people Columbus “discovered” were Spanish subjects who could not be enslaved—and she promptly and sternly returned the explorer’s gift.

In May 1498, Columbus sailed west across the Atlantic for the third time. He visited Trinidad and the South American mainland before returning to the ill-fated Hispaniola settlement, where the colonists had staged a bloody revolt against the Columbus brothers’ mismanagement and brutality. Conditions were so bad that Spanish authorities had to send a new governor to take over.

Meanwhile, the native Taino population, forced to search for gold and to work on plantations, was decimated (within 60 years after Columbus landed, only a few hundred of what may have been 250,000 Taino were left on their island). Christopher Columbus was arrested and returned to Spain in chains.

In 1502, cleared of the most serious charges but stripped of his noble titles, the aging Columbus persuaded the Spanish crown to pay for one last trip across the Atlantic. This time, Columbus made it all the way to Panama—just miles from the Pacific Ocean—where he had to abandon two of his four ships after damage from storms and hostile natives. Empty-handed, the explorer returned to Spain, where he died in 1506.

Legacy of Christopher Columbus

Christopher Columbus did not “discover” the Americas, nor was he even the first European to visit the “New World.” (Viking explorer Leif Erikson had sailed to Greenland and Newfoundland in the 11th century.)

However, his journey kicked off centuries of exploration and exploitation on the American continents. The Columbian Exchange transferred people, animals, food and disease across cultures. Old World wheat became an American food staple. African coffee and Asian sugar cane became cash crops for Latin America, while American foods like corn, tomatoes and potatoes were introduced into European diets. 

Today, Columbus has a controversial legacy —he is remembered as a daring and path-breaking explorer who transformed the New World, yet his actions also unleashed changes that would eventually devastate the native populations he and his fellow explorers encountered.

HISTORY Vault: Columbus the Lost Voyage

Ten years after his 1492 voyage, Columbus, awaiting the gallows on criminal charges in a Caribbean prison, plotted a treacherous final voyage to restore his reputation.

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The Ages of Exploration

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Christopher Columbus sailed west across the Atlantic Ocean searching for a new sea route to the spices in India. He never made it to Asia, but instead discovered a “New World” to Europeans.

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Christopher Columbus

Italian explorer Christopher Columbus discovered the “New World” of the Americas on an expedition sponsored by King Ferdinand of Spain in 1492.

c. 1451-1506

Quick Facts

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Christopher Columbus was an Italian explorer and navigator. In 1492, he sailed across the Atlantic Ocean from Spain in the Santa Maria , with the Pinta and the Niña ships alongside, hoping to find a new route to Asia. Instead, he and his crew landed on an island in present-day Bahamas—claiming it for Spain and mistakenly “discovering” the Americas. Between 1493 and 1504, he made three more voyages to the Caribbean and South America, believing until his death that he had found a shorter route to Asia. Columbus has been credited—and blamed—for opening up the Americas to European colonization.

FULL NAME: Cristoforo Colombo BORN: c. 1451 DIED: May 20, 1506 BIRTHPLACE: Genoa, Italy SPOUSE: Filipa Perestrelo (c. 1479-1484) CHILDREN: Diego and Fernando

Christopher Columbus, whose real name was Cristoforo Colombo, was born in 1451 in the Republic of Genoa, part of what is now Italy. He is believed to have been the son of Dominico Colombo and Susanna Fontanarossa and had four siblings: brothers Bartholomew, Giovanni, and Giacomo, and a sister named Bianchinetta. He was an apprentice in his father’s wool weaving business and studied sailing and mapmaking.

In his 20s, Columbus moved to Lisbon, Portugal, and later resettled in Spain, which remained his home base for the duration of his life.

Columbus first went to sea as a teenager, participating in several trading voyages in the Mediterranean and Aegean seas. One such voyage, to the island of Khios, in modern-day Greece, brought him the closest he would ever come to Asia.

His first voyage into the Atlantic Ocean in 1476 nearly cost him his life, as the commercial fleet he was sailing with was attacked by French privateers off the coast of Portugal. His ship was burned, and Columbus had to swim to the Portuguese shore.

He made his way to Lisbon, where he eventually settled and married Filipa Perestrelo. The couple had one son, Diego, around 1480. His wife died when Diego was a young boy, and Columbus moved to Spain. He had a second son, Fernando, who was born out of wedlock in 1488 with Beatriz Enriquez de Arana.

After participating in several other expeditions to Africa, Columbus learned about the Atlantic currents that flow east and west from the Canary Islands.

The Asian islands near China and India were fabled for their spices and gold, making them an attractive destination for Europeans—but Muslim domination of the trade routes through the Middle East made travel eastward difficult.

Columbus devised a route to sail west across the Atlantic to reach Asia, believing it would be quicker and safer. He estimated the earth to be a sphere and the distance between the Canary Islands and Japan to be about 2,300 miles.

Many of Columbus’ contemporary nautical experts disagreed. They adhered to the (now known to be accurate) second-century BCE estimate of the Earth’s circumference at 25,000 miles, which made the actual distance between the Canary Islands and Japan about 12,200 statute miles. Despite their disagreement with Columbus on matters of distance, they concurred that a westward voyage from Europe would be an uninterrupted water route.

Columbus proposed a three-ship voyage of discovery across the Atlantic first to the Portuguese king, then to Genoa, and finally to Venice. He was rejected each time. In 1486, he went to the Spanish monarchy of Queen Isabella of Castile and Ferdinand II of Aragon. Their focus was on a war with the Muslims, and their nautical experts were skeptical, so they initially rejected Columbus.

The idea, however, must have intrigued the monarchs, because they kept Columbus on a retainer. Columbus continued to lobby the royal court, and soon, the Spanish army captured the last Muslim stronghold in Granada in January 1492. Shortly thereafter, the monarchs agreed to finance his expedition.

In late August 1492, Columbus left Spain from the port of Palos de la Frontera. He was sailing with three ships: Columbus in the larger Santa Maria (a type of ship known as a carrack), with the Pinta and the Niña (both Portuguese-style caravels) alongside.

On October 12, 1492, after 36 days of sailing westward across the Atlantic, Columbus and several crewmen set foot on an island in present-day Bahamas, claiming it for Spain.

There, his crew encountered a timid but friendly group of natives who were open to trade with the sailors. They exchanged glass beads, cotton balls, parrots, and spears. The Europeans also noticed bits of gold the natives wore for adornment.

Columbus and his men continued their journey, visiting the islands of Cuba (which he thought was mainland China) and Hispaniola (now Haiti and the Dominican Republic, which Columbus thought might be Japan) and meeting with the leaders of the native population.

During this time, the Santa Maria was wrecked on a reef off the coast of Hispaniola. With the help of some islanders, Columbus’ men salvaged what they could and built the settlement Villa de la Navidad (“Christmas Town”) with lumber from the ship.

Thirty-nine men stayed behind to occupy the settlement. Convinced his exploration had reached Asia, he set sail for home with the two remaining ships. Returning to Spain in 1493, Columbus gave a glowing but somewhat exaggerated report and was warmly received by the royal court.

In 1493, Columbus took to the seas on his second expedition and explored more islands in the Caribbean Ocean. Upon arrival at Hispaniola, Columbus and his crew discovered the Navidad settlement had been destroyed with all the sailors massacred.

Spurning the wishes of the local queen, Columbus established a forced labor policy upon the native population to rebuild the settlement and explore for gold, believing it would be profitable. His efforts produced small amounts of gold and great hatred among the native population.

Before returning to Spain, Columbus left his brothers Bartholomew and Giacomo to govern the settlement on Hispaniola and sailed briefly around the larger Caribbean islands, further convincing himself he had discovered the outer islands of China.

It wasn’t until his third voyage that Columbus actually reached the South American mainland, exploring the Orinoco River in present-day Venezuela. By this time, conditions at the Hispaniola settlement had deteriorated to the point of near-mutiny, with settlers claiming they had been misled by Columbus’ claims of riches and complaining about the poor management of his brothers.

The Spanish Crown sent a royal official who arrested Columbus and stripped him of his authority. He returned to Spain in chains to face the royal court. The charges were later dropped, but Columbus lost his titles as governor of the Indies and, for a time, much of the riches made during his voyages.

After convincing King Ferdinand that one more voyage would bring the abundant riches promised, Columbus went on his fourth and final voyage across the Atlantic Ocean in 1502. This time he traveled along the eastern coast of Central America in an unsuccessful search for a route to the Indian Ocean.

A storm wrecked one of his ships, stranding the captain and his sailors on the island of Cuba. During this time, local islanders, tired of the Spaniards’ poor treatment and obsession with gold, refused to give them food.

In a spark of inspiration, Columbus consulted an almanac and devised a plan to “punish” the islanders by taking away the moon. On February 29, 1504, a lunar eclipse alarmed the natives enough to re-establish trade with the Spaniards. A rescue party finally arrived, sent by the royal governor of Hispaniola in July, and Columbus and his men were taken back to Spain in November 1504.

In the two remaining years of his life, Columbus struggled to recover his reputation. Although he did regain some of his riches in May 1505, his titles were never returned.

Columbus probably died of severe arthritis following an infection on May 20, 1506, in Valladolid, Spain. At the time of his death, he still believed he had discovered a shorter route to Asia.

There are questions about the location of his burial site. According to the BBC , Columbus’ remains moved at least three or four times over the course of 400 years—including from Valladolid to Seville, Spain, in 1509; then to Santo Domingo, in what is now the Dominican Republic, in 1537; then to Havana, Cuba, in 1795; and back to Seville in 1898. As a result, Seville and Santo Domingo have both laid claim to being Columbus’ true burial site. It is also possible his bones were mixed up with another person’s amid all of their travels.

In May 2014, Columbus made headlines as news broke that a team of archaeologists might have found the Santa Maria off the north coast of Haiti. Barry Clifford, the leader of this expedition, told the Independent newspaper that “all geographical, underwater topography and archaeological evidence strongly suggests this wreck is Columbus’ famous flagship the Santa Maria.”

After a thorough investigation by the U.N. agency UNESCO, it was determined the wreck dates from a later period and was located too far from shore to be the famed ship.

Columbus has been credited for opening up the Americas to European colonization—as well as blamed for the destruction of the native peoples of the islands he explored. Ultimately, he failed to find that what he set out for: a new route to Asia and the riches it promised.

In what is known as the Columbian Exchange, Columbus’ expeditions set in motion the widespread transfer of people, plants, animals, diseases, and cultures that greatly affected nearly every society on the planet.

The horse from Europe allowed Native American tribes in the Great Plains of North America to shift from a nomadic to a hunting lifestyle. Wheat from the Old World fast became a main food source for people in the Americas. Coffee from Africa and sugar cane from Asia became major cash crops for Latin American countries. And foods from the Americas, such as potatoes, tomatoes and corn, became staples for Europeans and helped increase their populations.

The Columbian Exchange also brought new diseases to both hemispheres, though the effects were greatest in the Americas. Smallpox from the Old World killed millions, decimating the Native American populations to mere fractions of their original numbers. This more than any other factor allowed for European domination of the Americas.

The overwhelming benefits of the Columbian Exchange went to the Europeans initially and eventually to the rest of the world. The Americas were forever altered, and the once vibrant cultures of the Indigenous civilizations were changed and lost, denying the world any complete understanding of their existence.

As more Italians began to immigrate to the United States and settle in major cities during the 19 th century, they were subject to religious and ethnic discrimination. This included a mass lynching of 11 Sicilian immigrants in 1891 in New Orleans.

Just one year after this horrific event, President Benjamin Harrison called for the first national observance of Columbus Day on October 12, 1892, to mark the 400 th anniversary of his arrival in the Americas. Italian-Americans saw this honorary act for Columbus as a way of gaining acceptance.

Colorado became the first state to officially observe Columbus Day in 1906 and, within five years, 14 other states followed. Thanks to a joint resolution of Congress, the day officially became a federal holiday in 1934 during the administration of Franklin D. Roosevelt . In 1970, Congress declared the holiday would fall on the second Monday in October each year.

But as Columbus’ legacy—specifically, his exploration’s impacts on Indigenous civilizations—began to draw more criticism, more people chose not to take part. As of 2023, approximately 29 states no longer celebrate Columbus Day , and around 195 cities have renamed it or replaced with the alternative Indigenous Peoples Day. The latter isn’t an official holiday, but the federal government recognized its observance in 2022 and 2023. President Joe Biden called it “a day in honor of our diverse history and the Indigenous peoples who contribute to shaping this nation.”

One of the most notable cities to move away from celebrating Columbus Day in recent years is the state capital of Columbus, Ohio, which is named after the explorer. In 2018, Mayor Andrew Ginther announced the city would remain open on Columbus Day and instead celebrate a holiday on Veterans Day. In July 2020, the city also removed a 20-plus-foot metal statue of Columbus from the front of City Hall.

• I went to sea from the most tender age and have continued in a sea life to this day. Whoever gives himself up to this art wants to know the secrets of Nature here below. It is more than forty years that I have been thus engaged. Wherever any one has sailed, there I have sailed.
• Speaking of myself, little profit had I won from twenty years of service, during which I have served with so great labors and perils, for today I have no roof over my head in Castile; if I wish to sleep or eat, I have no place to which to go, save an inn or tavern, and most often, I lack the wherewithal to pay the score.
• They say that there is in that land an infinite amount of gold; and that the people wear corals on their heads and very large bracelets of coral on their feet and arms; and that with coral they adorn and inlay chairs and chests and tables.
• This island and all the others are very fertile to a limitless degree, and this island is extremely so. In it there are many harbors on the coast of the sea, beyond comparison with others that I know in Christendom, and many rivers, good and large, which is marvelous.
• Our Almighty God has shown me the highest favor, which, since David, he has not shown to anybody.
• Already the road is opened to gold and pearls, and it may surely be hoped that precious stones, spices, and a thousand other things, will also be found.
• I have now seen so much irregularity, that I have come to another conclusion respecting the earth, namely, that it is not round as they describe, but of the form of a pear.
• In all the countries visited by your Highnesses’ ships, I have caused a high cross to be fixed upon every headland and have proclaimed, to every nation that I have discovered, the lofty estate of your Highnesses and of your court in Spain.
• I ought to be judged as a captain sent from Spain to the Indies, to conquer a nation numerous and warlike, with customs and religions altogether different to ours.

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• Ph.D., Spanish, Ohio State University
• M.A., Spanish, University of Montana
• B.A., Spanish, Penn State University

How was the first voyage of Columbus to the New World undertaken, and what was its legacy? Having convinced the King and Queen of Spain to finance his voyage, Christopher Columbus departed mainland Spain on August 3, 1492. He quickly made port in the Canary Islands for a final restocking and left there on September 6. He was in command of three ships: the Pinta, the Niña, and the Santa María. Although Columbus was in overall command, the Pinta was captained by Martín Alonso Pinzón and the Niña by Vicente Yañez Pinzón.

First Landfall: San Salvador

On October 12, Rodrigo de Triana, a sailor aboard the Pinta, first sighted land. Columbus himself later claimed that he had seen a sort of light or aura before Triana did, allowing him to keep the reward he had promised to give to whoever spotted land first. The land turned out to be a small island in the present-day Bahamas. Columbus named the island San Salvador, although he remarked in his journal that the natives referred to it as Guanahani. There is some debate over which island was Columbus’ first stop; most experts believe it to be San Salvador, Samana Cay, Plana Cays or Grand Turk Island.

Second Landfall: Cuba

Columbus explored five islands in the modern-day Bahamas before he made it to Cuba. He reached Cuba on October 28, making landfall at Bariay, a harbor near the eastern tip of the island. Thinking he had found China, he sent two men to investigate. They were Rodrigo de Jerez and Luis de Torres, a converted Jew who spoke Hebrew, Aramaic, and Arabic in addition to Spanish. Columbus had brought him as an interpreter. The two men failed in their mission to find the Emperor of China but did visit a native Taíno village. There they were the first to observe the smoking of tobacco, a habit which they promptly picked up.

Third Landfall: Hispaniola

Leaving Cuba, Columbus made landfall on the Island of Hispaniola on December 5. Indigenous people called it Haití but Columbus referred to it as La Española, a name which was later changed to Hispaniola when Latin texts were written about the discovery. On December 25, the Santa María ran aground and had to be abandoned. Columbus himself took over as captain of the Niña, as the Pinta had become separated from the other two ships. Negotiating with the local chieftain Guacanagari, Columbus arranged to leave 39 of his men behind in a small settlement, named La Navidad .

Return to Spain

On January 6, the Pinta arrived, and the ships were reunited: they set out for Spain on January 16. The ships arrived in Lisbon, Portugal, on March 4, returning to Spain shortly after that.

Historical Importance of Columbus' First Voyage

In retrospect, it is somewhat surprising that what is today considered one of the most important voyages in history was something of a failure at the time. Columbus had promised to find a new, quicker route to the lucrative Chinese trade markets and he failed miserably. Instead of holds full of Chinese silks and spices, he returned with some trinkets and a few bedraggled Indigenous people from Hispaniola. Some 10 more had perished on the voyage. Also, he had lost the largest of the three ships entrusted to him.

Columbus actually considered the Indigenous people his greatest find. He thought that a new trade of enslaved people could make his discoveries lucrative. Columbus was hugely disappointed a few years later when Queen Isabela, after careful thought, decided not to open the New World to the trading of enslaved people.

Columbus never believed that he had found something new. He maintained, to his dying day, that the lands he discovered were indeed part of the known Far East. In spite of the failure of the first expedition to find spices or gold, a much larger second expedition was approved, perhaps in part due to Columbus’ skills as a salesman.

Herring, Hubert. A History of Latin America From the Beginnings to the Present. New York: Alfred A. Knopf, 1962

Thomas, Hugh. "Rivers of Gold: The Rise of the Spanish Empire, from Columbus to Magellan." 1st edition, Random House, June 1, 2004.

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History Resources

Columbus reports on his first voyage, 1493

A spotlight on a primary source by christopher columbus.

On August 3, 1492, Columbus set sail from Spain to find an all-water route to Asia. On October 12, more than two months later, Columbus landed on an island in the Bahamas that he called San Salvador; the natives called it Guanahani.

For nearly five months, Columbus explored the Caribbean, particularly the islands of Juana (Cuba) and Hispaniola (Santo Domingo), before returning to Spain. He left thirty-nine men to build a settlement called La Navidad in present-day Haiti. He also kidnapped several Native Americans (between ten and twenty-five) to take back to Spain—only eight survived. Columbus brought back small amounts of gold as well as native birds and plants to show the richness of the continent he believed to be Asia.

When Columbus arrived back in Spain on March 15, 1493, he immediately wrote a letter announcing his discoveries to King Ferdinand and Queen Isabella, who had helped finance his trip. The letter was written in Spanish and sent to Rome, where it was printed in Latin by Stephan Plannck. Plannck mistakenly left Queen Isabella’s name out of the pamphlet’s introduction but quickly realized his error and reprinted the pamphlet a few days later. The copy shown here is the second, corrected edition of the pamphlet.

The Latin printing of this letter announced the existence of the American continent throughout Europe. “I discovered many islands inhabited by numerous people. I took possession of all of them for our most fortunate King by making public proclamation and unfurling his standard, no one making any resistance,” Columbus wrote.

In addition to announcing his momentous discovery, Columbus’s letter also provides observations of the native people’s culture and lack of weapons, noting that “they are destitute of arms, which are entirely unknown to them, and for which they are not adapted; not on account of any bodily deformity, for they are well made, but because they are timid and full of terror.” Writing that the natives are “fearful and timid . . . guileless and honest,” Columbus declares that the land could easily be conquered by Spain, and the natives “might become Christians and inclined to love our King and Queen and Princes and all the people of Spain.”

An English translation of this document is available.

I have determined to write you this letter to inform you of everything that has been done and discovered in this voyage of mine.

On the thirty-third day after leaving Cadiz I came into the Indian Sea, where I discovered many islands inhabited by numerous people. I took possession of all of them for our most fortunate King by making public proclamation and unfurling his standard, no one making any resistance. The island called Juana, as well as the others in its neighborhood, is exceedingly fertile. It has numerous harbors on all sides, very safe and wide, above comparison with any I have ever seen. Through it flow many very broad and health-giving rivers; and there are in it numerous very lofty mountains. All these island are very beautiful, and of quite different shapes; easy to be traversed, and full of the greatest variety of trees reaching to the stars. . . .

In the island, which I have said before was called Hispana , there are very lofty and beautiful mountains, great farms, groves and fields, most fertile both for cultivation and for pasturage, and well adapted for constructing buildings. The convenience of the harbors in this island, and the excellence of the rivers, in volume and salubrity, surpass human belief, unless on should see them. In it the trees, pasture-lands and fruits different much from those of Juana. Besides, this Hispana abounds in various kinds of species, gold and metals. The inhabitants . . . are all, as I said before, unprovided with any sort of iron, and they are destitute of arms, which are entirely unknown to them, and for which they are not adapted; not on account of any bodily deformity, for they are well made, but because they are timid and full of terror. . . . But when they see that they are safe, and all fear is banished, they are very guileless and honest, and very liberal of all they have. No one refuses the asker anything that he possesses; on the contrary they themselves invite us to ask for it. They manifest the greatest affection towards all of us, exchanging valuable things for trifles, content with the very least thing or nothing at all. . . . I gave them many beautiful and pleasing things, which I had brought with me, for no return whatever, in order to win their affection, and that they might become Christians and inclined to love our King and Queen and Princes and all the people of Spain; and that they might be eager to search for and gather and give to us what they abound in and we greatly need.

Questions for Discussion

Read the document introduction and transcript in order to answer these questions.

• Columbus described the Natives he first encountered as “timid and full of fear.” Why did he then capture some Natives and bring them aboard his ships?
• Imagine the thoughts of the Europeans as they first saw land in the “New World.” What do you think would have been their most immediate impression? Explain your answer.
• Which of the items Columbus described would have been of most interest to King Ferdinand and Queen Isabella? Why?
• Why did Columbus describe the islands and their inhabitants in great detail?
• It is said that this voyage opened the period of the “Columbian Exchange.” Why do you think that term has been attached to this period of time?

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Route of the First Voyage of Columbus, 1492

• Destinations

Columbus Travel Guide

With a constant injection of fresh talent from both Ohio State University and the Columbus College of Art and Design, Columbus is young, smart, and creative. The hip city oozes energy from the trendy Short North Arts District to the historic German Village to a whole slew of up-and-coming neighborhoods, where creative entrepreneurs are transforming the art, food, and fashion scenes of Ohio's largest city and state capital. —Laura Watilo Blake

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Best Time to Visit

Weather & Climate

John Glenn Columbus Airport Guide

Neighborhoods to Know

Top Things to Do

Free Things to Do

Things to Do With Kids

Museums and Galleries

48-Hour Itinerary

Best Restaurants

Nightlife Guide

Your Trip to Columbus: The Complete Guide

Most people who’ve never visited Columbus know little about it other than the fact that it’s the capital of Ohio and the home of Ohio State University. But those who come for their first visit are consistently surprised by what a cool city it is. With a youthful, tolerant vibe, Columbus is also blessed with distinctive neighborhoods, lively arts and culture, strong fashion and culinary scenes, a wide array of sports, and eye-catching contemporary architecture. Now the 14th largest city in the U.S.  , Columbus is growing by leaps and bounds—go to one of the high points in the city and you’ll be greeted by a vista of construction cranes everywhere. Here’s a quick overview to direct you to the best of what the city has to offer.

Planning Your Trip

Best Time to Visit: For those who want good weather as a backdrop for their visit, the months of May through October are the best bets . But the city's winters are noticeably less severe than other cities in the region, and with a year-long calendar of distinctive events and indoor attractions to visit of the highest caliber, there’s really never a bad time to pay a call on Columbus.

Getting Around: COTA (Central Ohio Transit Authority) offers a fleet of frequently running buses covering every corner of the city. Two special buses of note are the Cbus Circulator, a free shuttle service covering downtown and its surrounding neighborhoods, and Air Connect between downtown and the airport. Also, the CoGo Bike Share program offers 600 bikes at more than 70 locations throughout the city, and a wait for either Uber or Lyft seldom exceeds more than a few minutes.

Travel Tip: Most of Columbus’s distinctive neighborhoods of most interest to visitors lie like a string of pearls along High Street, one of the city’s main north-south thoroughfares. COTA’s Number 2 bus goes up and down High Street at frequent intervals, linking downtown to German Village and the Brewery District to the south and to the Short North Arts District and Ohio State University to the north, thus making it possible to quickly get from one of these neighborhoods to another for a mere $2. 

Things to Do

Not to be missed in Columbus is a visit to the Short North Arts District, an eclectic mix of art galleries, unique boutiques, and restaurants just north of downtown. Families will find themselves drawn to the nationally known Columbus Zoo and to COSI, the Center of Science and Industry, where the Dinosaur Gallery, with exhibits like a T. Rex walking in place, is especially amazing. And visitors in the fall will be struck by how the city goes wild during a home Ohio State football game. But there are many attractions not so prominent on visitors’ radar screens that also are well worth checking out.

Live Entertainment: A live music scene is thriving in Columbus with venues like Ace of Cups, the Rumba Cafe, Newport Music Hall, The Bluestone, and Express Live hosting both local and traveling musicians. The often bawdy and always bodacious Shadowbox Live is the country’s largest resident ensemble theater company presenting everything from cabaret-style revues to rock operas.

Art: In addition to the Short North’s art galleries, the recently expanded Columbus Museum of Art has a diverse trove of treasures—its Pizzuti Collection of contemporary art is housed in a separate building. And don’t miss the Billy Ireland Cartoon Library and Museum, the largest collection of cartoon art in the world, displayed in frequently changing exhibits on the OSU campus.

Sports: It’s impossible to miss Columbus’s obsession with Ohio State football, but equally rabid fans pack in to watch the Columbus Blue Jackets, the city’s major-league hockey team, and the Columbus Crew, the local professional soccer team. Also popular is the minor-league baseball team, the Columbus Clippers.

What to Eat and Drink

The many innovative chefs in Columbus and the number of new restaurants popping up each year make the local culinary scene especially lively. Many of the best restaurants are clustered in the neighborhoods surrounding downtown, including German Village and the Short North, but top-notch dining experiences are available in any corner of the city. And with Ohio’s vast farmlands surrounding Columbus on every side, it’s not surprising that the farm-to-table movement in the city is especially strong.

Evidence of the dining excellence is the number of Columbus chefs who’ve been nominated or won the prestigious James Beard Award, including Spencer Budros, the baker of the to-die-for pastries at Pistacia Vera, and James Ray Anderson, creator of the delectable barbecue at Ray Ray’s Hog Pit. Local ice cream empress, Jeni Britton Bauer, proprietor of Jeni’s Splendid Ice Creams, actually won the James Beard Award in 2012 for her ice cream cookbook.

With many immigrants from across the globe, it’s not surprising that international cuisine is also strong in Columbus. One favorite, Momo Ghar, a hole-in-the-wall place inside Saraga International Grocery, is popular for its Nepalese dumplings. And with one of the highest populations of Somali immigrants in the U.S.  , a variety of restaurants featuring the cuisine of that African country can be found, including Hoyo’s Kitchen in the northeast part of the city.

The “Alt Eat” tour offered by Columbus Food Adventures, is one way to get a quick sampling of Columbus’s many ethnically diverse restaurants, but the company also offers a variety of other tours focusing on desserts, breakfasts, coffee, meats, and taco trucks as well as visits focusing on specific neighborhoods like the Short North, Old Worthington, German Village, and Grandview Avenue.

The craft brewery scene is exploding in Columbus, as it is across the U.S. The Columbus Ale Trail offers a self-guided tour to nearly four dozen breweries, and a specialized beer tour also is offered by Columbus Food Adventures. Two local distillers, Middle West Spirits and Watershed Distillers, not only make excellent vodkas, gins, and bourbons using local ingredients but also have sumptuous restaurants inside each location. At the Brothers Drake, patrons can listen to live music while sampling Ohio-made meads.

Where to Stay

Most of the city's hotels are centrally located downtown, near the Convention Center, and in the Short North Arts District, while others can be found near the Easton Town Center mall in the northeast part of the city not far from the airport and at Polaris Fashion Place Mall on the city’s northern fringes. A number of chain hotels and motels are located just to the west of the Ohio State campus. A cluster of bed-and-breakfasts and offerings by AirBnB also are mostly in the center city with some of them in the charming residential neighborhoods of Victorian Village and Italian Village near the Short North and in German Village just south of downtown. 

Both the downtown Hilton and the Joseph Hotel in the Short North make a strong focus on artwork in their public spaces, many by local artists. The decor at the Graduate Hotel, also in the Short North, focuses strongly on Ohio State University and the city of Columbus, not just in the public areas but also in individual rooms. The unique DogHouse Craft Beer Hotel in suburban Canal Winchester is the world’s first craft beer accommodation located inside a working brewery, BrewDog USA. Not only are your pooches welcome, but you can also drink beer from the private tap inside your room.

Getting There

John Glenn International Airport , just 6 miles east of downtown, is serviced by Air Canada, Alaska Airlines, American, Delta, Frontier, Southwest, Spirit, and United airlines. An Air Connect bus connects the airport to downtown, and taxis, Uber, and Lyft are readily available. Although it’s mostly a cargo airport, Rickenbacker International Airport south of the city also has passenger service by Alegiant Air and charter carriers.

Money Saving Tips

• Many of the city’s top festivals, such as the Columbus Arts Festival held each June, are either free or have a very low cost. 
• There are more than 350 city and regional metro parks around Franklin County, offering outstanding beauty and outdoor activities, from the renowned Topiary Park to the Park of Roses. 
• The wildly popular Gallery Hop, held every first Saturday of the month in the Short North Arts District, is free and a great way to get a sense for Columbus’s arts scene.
• After New York and Los Angeles, Columbus has recently ranked as being home to the third-highest number of employees in the fashion industry (it still ranks on the list)  , making it a great place to shop for stylish clothing at a fraction of the cost of cities on the coasts.
• Many Columbus museums and cultural institutions have reciprocal agreements with museums in other cities. If you’re a member of your local organizations, check and see if they have such an agreement with attractions in Columbus.
• Breakfast is a big deal in Columbus. Save a few bucks by combining breakfast and lunch for one big, delicious meal.

Culture and Customs

Midwesterners are notoriously friendly, so don’t be surprised if people walk up to you and initiate a conversation. Better yet, walk up to them first and ask them what their favorite local attractions and activities are. It’s a great way to learn about hidden gems—and to make a new friend!

United States Census Bureau. "Fastest-Growing Cities Primarily in the South and West." May 23, 2019

Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. "Immigrant and Refugee Health: Population Movements."

U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics. "Occupational Employment Statistics." May 2019

The Top 10 Neighborhoods in Columbus, Ohio

48 Hours in Columbus: The Ultimate Itinerary

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The 10 Best Museums and Art Galleries in Columbus, Ohio

LGBTQ Travel Guide: Columbus Ohio

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The Best Time to Visit Columbus, Ohio

The 12 Top Free Things to Do in Columbus

Nightlife in Columbus, Ohio: Best Bars, Clubs and More

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The Best Places to Take Your Kids in Columbus

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Weather in Columbus, Ohio: Climate, Seasons, and Average Monthly Temperature

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Your Trip to Charleston: The Complete Guide

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Distance Calculator Between Cities for Precise Driving Distances

Efficiently find the distance between cities, including driving distances, estimated travel times, and detailed route maps for any journey in the USA, from cross-country adventures to short drives.

This distance calculator, covering the United States, North America, and worldwide, simplifies your travel planning. Enter your start and end points in the "From" and "To" fields — accepting city names, addresses, or GPS coordinates — and click "Calculate" to get started.

Customize your journey with "Fuel consumption" and "Fuel price" for cost estimates, and use the crosshair icon for map selections. Dive into "Advanced options" to add stops or adjust speeds, tailoring the trip to your pace and ensuring accurate travel time predictions.

Driving Distance Between Two Cities: US Route Examples

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Route Planner for Estimating Distance Between Two Points

Family Vacation Planning : Families planning summer vacations can use the distance calculator to plan their route, estimate fuel costs based on their car's fuel consumption, and calculate budget needs, ensuring a cost-effective and enjoyable journey.

Business Travel Optimization : Professionals can plot the most efficient routes for their business trips, incorporating distance calculations to manage time effectively and budget for travel expenses accurately.

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Meeting Halfway : Friends living in different cities can find a central meeting point by calculating the halfway distance between their locations, making it easier to arrange reunions and share new adventures together.

Explore Functions of the City-to-City Distance Calculator

City distances evolve annually with the construction of new roads, highways, and bridges.

Our online Distance Between Cities Calculator complements your preferred GPS navigator by allowing you to map out your route in advance, while your GPS assists during the drive.

The calculator utilizes OSM data and incorporates key Google Maps functionalities, including:

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• Distance calculations in either kilometers or miles, with unit preferences adjustable in the menu.

Exclusive features of our calculator include:

• The ability to print, save as PDF/PNG, or export routes to GIS and GPS formats such as GPX, KML, and GeoJSON .
• A route scheme offering a sequence of cities and timing for passing intermediate cities, an efficient alternative to detailed turn-by-turn directions for long distances.
• Fuel cost estimation adaptable to various fuel types. Just input your vehicle's fuel efficiency.
• Capability to generate distance matrices, savable in Excel format, for comprehensive planning.

USA, North America, and Worldwide Coverage

138,192 localities covered in United States. 1,971,411 localities worldwide.

This service measures the distance between cities around the world and is available in several languages:

• English ca.drivebestway.com Canada Mileage Calculator
• Spanish www.mejoresrutas.com Traza tu ruta por México
• Portuguese www.melhoresrotas.com Calculadora de distância entre cidades do Brasil
• English au.drivebestway.com Aussie Distance Calculator
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• German ch.besterouten.com Routenplaner Schweiz
• German at.besterouten.com Routenplaner Österreich

How Driving Distance Is Calculated Between Two Locations

Algorithm for calculating driving distances between cities.

This route calculation tool harnesses the power of shortest path search algorithms within a weighted road graph, employing sophisticated algorithms like Dijkstra, A-Star, and Contraction Hierarchies . Unlike conventional calculators that use distance or travel time as the graph weight, our system optimizes drive time for vehicles, favoring routes on higher-class roads for a smoother journey.

The backbone of this tool is built on OpenStreetMap data, ensuring our road graphs are accurate and up-to-date. We calculate distances between road segments with the haversine formula , using precise GPS coordinates to measure the Great Circle Distance. This formula is pivotal for calculating "air distance" or "straight line distance" between two points, taking into account the curvature of the Earth.

Road distances, however, diverge from straight line distances due to the natural curvature and layout of roads . To address this, roads are represented as segmented lines, and the haversine formula is applied to each segment, allowing for precise calculation of the journey length between any two points.

Recognizing that cities encompass large areas, our tool selects a central point within each city for distance calculations between cities. For personalized route planning, users can specify exact addresses or select points on the map. Additionally, the route's start and end points can be adjusted directly on the map for enhanced customization.

Travel time calculations break down the route into segments, evaluating the maximum permitted speed for each segment to estimate the fastest possible travel time.

It’s important to note that while our route calculation relies on advanced computer modeling for accuracy, no model is perfect. We encourage users to plan with a margin for adjustment to ensure a reliable and efficient journey.

Alternative Methods for Distance Calculation Between Two Addresses

One simple way to measure distance is by using a highway atlas. By tracing a route with your eye and rolling a curvimeter along it, you can gauge the distance. Estimating travel time involves assuming an average speed of 50 miles/hour on major intercity roads. Although this method provides rough estimates, it's straightforward.

In the absence of a curvimeter, a ruler can serve as a substitute. Start by aligning the ruler's zero mark with your route's beginning and follow the road's bends closely. Then, translate the measured length into kilometers or miles using the map's scale, which is typically provided in the atlas.

For those seeking a more streamlined approach, pre-calculated distance tables specifically for the USA are available on websites, atlases, and guidebooks. Particularly useful for journeys between major cities, these tables streamline planning, although they may omit smaller locales.

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Meet the new Arizona Cardinals chosen in the 2024 NFL Draft

Get to know the new members of the Arizona Cardinals.

Meet Marvin Harrison Jr.

Just call the new Arizona Cardinals wide receiver and former Ohio State star Mr. Business Decision. Harrison made a lot of choices leading up to the NFL Draft, including skipping on-field drills and workouts at the NFL Combine, didn't run at Ohio State's Pro Day and signed an endorsement deal with New Balance just before the NFL Draft.

He also has yet to sign a preliminary NFLPA licensing agreement that all draftees typically sign, according to an ESPN report, which would allow the NFL to make money off his name and likeness after he was selected in the draft and before his NFL contract is signed. So anyone hoping for a Harrison jersey will not be able to buy one right away, and Harrison will not be featured in video games until he signs his NFLPA group licensing deal.

Want a Harrison Jr. Cardinals jersey? You can't buy one. Here's why

Harrison clearly understands the business of the NFL. His father Marvin Sr. starred for the Indianapolis Colts, and things have changes in the world of money-making opportunities for high profile NFL rookies.

Harrison, 21, was a two-time All-American at Ohio State who in 38 games with the Buckeyes had 155 receptions for 2,613 receiving yards and 31 touchdowns. He's been nicknamed "Maserati Marv" for his speed and swervy yet precise route running, and according to the Washington Post, his pad in Columbus, Ohio is described as "his well-kept apartment with its two closets of color-coded clothes — one for shirts and tops, one for slacks and bottoms."

Meet Darius Robinson

The Cardinals' second pick of the first round Thursday was defensive lineman Darius Robinson out of Missouri. Robinson has been listed as an edge rusher, a position where the Cardinals seek a dynamic presence, and he had 8 ½ sacks and 14 tackles for loss last season.

Robinson moved from the interior defensive line to the outside in his last college season. Pro Football Network said he can be an impact pass rusher in the NFL. He's a two-year captain, much like future Cardinals teammate BJ Ojulari who plays edge rusher and was drafted last year, and was first-team all-SEC last season while earning top performer honors at the Senior Bowl.

Robinson was featured during the ESPN telecast of the NFL Draft for his community work, which should help him blend in well with the many Cardinals who are active in weekly volunteer work. It will be interesting to see how the Cardinals use him on defense, given his ability to play multiple spots on the defensive line.

You won't believe how many bags of trash ODOT has picked up along highways this year

Ohio is filled with litterbugs.

The Ohio Department of Transportation says it has picked up more than 89,000 bags of trash left along state routes and U.S. highways so far this year. The agency also reported spending a whopping $10 million a year collecting litter.

“Our highway crews are out on litter patrol all year, even through the winter when conditions allow. But come spring, litter reveals itself even more, especially as vehicle travel increases and people begin spring cleanup,” ODOT Director Jack Marchbanks said in a prepared statement.

“Please do your part and keep your trash contained wherever you work, drive, or enjoy the outdoors,” he added.

ODOT collects trash along state and U.S. routes outside municipalities and all interstates, except the Ohio Turnpike.

Ohio has 1,400  Adopt-A-Highway  groups that help pick up litter.

“We love doing the highway pickup," said Diane Bovee with First Universalist Church in Lyons, which organized a litter pickup along state Route 120 in Fulton County last weekend. "We’re among the oldest Adopt-A-Highway groups in Ohio. We have done it for close to 30 years. We’re not a small church, we’re a tiny church. We just think it’s the right thing to do.”

Since January, Adopt-A-Highway groups in Ohio have collected nearly 200 bags of trash, ODOT said.

In addition to ODOT forces and Adopt-A-Highway groups, litter collection is done along state highways by the following:

• Ohio Department of Rehabilitation and Corrections: ODOT works with 11 institutions on litter pickup along state highways. Since January, crews collected over 24,000 bags of trash.
• Interstate Business Solutions (IBS): ODOT contracts with IBS to clean up litter in the state’s metropolitan areas (Columbus, Cleveland, Cincinnati, Toledo, Akron, Canton and Youngstown). Since January, the IBS team has collected over 31,343 bags of trash.
• Center for Employment Opportunities: ODOT contracts with CEO to pick up along roadsides, and to clean encampment areas of unhoused individuals. Since January, the CEO team has collected nearly 25,000 bags of trash.

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USA TODAY 10Best

From farmers markets to food halls, where to go for the best epicurean excursions

April 24, 2024 // By 10Best Editors

By 10Best Editors April 24, 2024

Whether we're in our own cities or exploring a new region of the country, we often explore with our taste buds. So, we set out to find the best food outlets the United States has to offer across four categories: farmers markets, food halls, public markets, and food tours.

A panel of experts made their nominee selections, then our readers voted for their favorite places to get food — whether it's meant to be enjoyed right then and there or used to prepare an incredible meal at home.

Click on each category below to see the full winners list:

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Best Farmers Market: Worthington Farmers Market in Worthington, Ohio

Nearly 100 vendors from the Columbus area converge for the year-round Worthington Farmers Market that adapts to the seasons. In summer, May through October, farmers and producers of high-quality food and plants, sell al fresco in the Old Worthington Historic District. The rest of the year, the market goes indoors at The Shops at Worthington Place.

Full list of winners: Best Farmers Market »

Best Food Hall: Mother Road Market in Tulsa, Oklahoma

Get your kicks at Oklahoma's first food hall, located right on historic Route 66. In addition to more than 15 vendors serving up everything from sushi to Cajun cuisine to Brazilian fare, the Kitchen 66 Takeover Cafe offers a rotating opportunity for budding food entrepreneurs to strut their stuff.

Full list of winners: Best Food Hall »

Best Food Tour: Columbus Food Adventures in Columbus, Ohio

From neighborhood walking tours to by-van excursions and private tours, Columbus Food Adventures offers a full menu of ways to meet the area's rich culinary scene. Whether you're a meat-lover, brew-hound, taco fiend, or gastronomic globe-trotter, there's a tour to fit your appetite.

Full list of winners: Best Food Tour »

Best Public Market: Milwaukee Public Market in Milwaukee, Wisconsin

Billed as "a gathering place where great taste is always in season," Milwaukee Public Market offers local baked goods, cheeses, meats, produce, and prepared eats. Choose goodies from nearly 20 vendors and enjoy your selection in the Palm Garden seating area on the second level. Or learn how to make your own fare at Madam Kuony's demonstration kitchen, where cooking classes are offered multiple times weekly.

Full list of winners: Best Public Market »

Congratulations to all these winners! Remember to visit 10best.usatoday.com daily to vote in more of our Readers' Choice Awards.

Pros and cons of Arizona picking Ohio State football WR Marvin Harrison Jr. in NFL draft

Marvin Harrison Jr. became the highest-drafted wide receiver in Ohio State history Thursday night when the Arizona Cardinals took him with the fourth pick of the NFL draft.

The son of Pro Football Hall of Famer Marvin Harrison Jr. was considered perhaps the best overall prospect in the draft and was the first non-quarterback selected.

“I cannot be more excited than to be an Arizona Cardinal, really,” Harrison Jr. said during a conference call with Arizona reporters. “I’m super excited to get to work and that’s really all where my mind is at right now.”

Asked if thought he’d be picked at No. 4 by the Cardinals, he said, “It was definitely one of the options I thought could happen. I wanted to go into the draft with an open mind, didn’t have any expectation, but as soon as I got the phone call, man, I was just really excited like I said.”

Harrison Jr. said he’s looking forward to catching passes from Murray and being reunited with former college teammate, offensive tackle Paris Johnson Jr., whom Arizona selected a year ago with the No. 6 overall pick.

“Kyler’s awesome, man. You look at his record from high school, he’s always won and that’s the kind of guy I want to play with. He’s just so dynamic as a quarterback and I just want to go in there and make his job easier as much as I can,” Harrison Jr. said of Murray, adding of Johnson, “It’s really awesome. Its kind of like a full-circle moment. Last year before he even got drafted he was leaning toward Arizona and I was telling him how cool that would be if we played on the same team. … A year later we all made it work.”

Harrison will be reunited with former Buckeye teammate Paris Johnson Jr. The offensive tackle was Arizona's first-round pick last year with the sixth overall selection.

Harrison is projected to be the only Ohio State player taken in the first round of the draft. Defensive tackle Mike Hall Jr. and tight end Cade Stover could be taken Friday when the second and third rounds are selected.

More: 2024 NFL mock draft: Where all 9 Ohio State Buckeyes prospects are projected to land

Ohio State has had three wide receivers taken in the first round of the last two drafts − Jaxon Smith-Njigba last year and Garrett Wilson and Chris Olave in 2022 − but the highest-drafted Buckeye receiver until now was the late Terry Glenn. New England drafted him with the seventh pick in 1996.

What Marvin Harrison Jr. brings to Arizona in 2024 NFL draft

Harrison is expected to be an instant starter and probably a star right away. He provides much-needed help for Kyler Murray, who has been a disappointment since the Cardinals took him with the first pick of the 2019 draft.

Marvin Harrison Jr.'s highlights, strengths, weaknesses 

Harrison is as close to unflawed as a receiver. He is 6-foot-4 with long arms, which allows him to make catches even when well-covered. But he's not well-covered often. Usually, receivers Harrison's height tend to lope and aren't that quick coming out of breaks. But Harrison makes sharp cuts to give him space. He also has the raw speed to race by defenders.

More: Marvin Harrison Jr. outfit: Ohio State WR flashes black suit, pendant before 2024 NFL Draft

Harrison is a tireless worker who spent countless hours catching passes and working on routes with the aid of a Monarc ball machine at the Woody Hayes Athletic Center.

It's nit-picking to find weaknesses with Harrison. He battled ankle injuries during his last two seasons at Ohio State. He did have the occasional drop last season. Though he can be an effective blocker, that's not necessarily his forte.

Marvin Harrison Jr.'s stats at Ohio State

Harrison caught 155 passes for 2,613 yards and 31 touchdowns in his three-year OSU career. Last year, he had 67 receptions for 1,211 yards and 14 touchdowns catching passes from his high school teammate, Kyle McCord. In 2022, when C.J. Stroud was the Buckeyes quarterback, Harrison caught 77 passes for 1,263 yards with 14 touchdowns.

Marvin Harrison Jr.'s potential in the NFL

It would seem unfair to compare any player with a Pro Football Hall of Famer, but as he enters the NFL, there's every reason to think Harrison could join his father in Canton. He has all the tangible and intangible traits to become an instant star. Barring injury, he should become one of the NFL's top receivers sooner rather than later.

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