Do believe he "found" it for Spain.

I was curious, so I went looking here:

http://www.usvi.net/usvi/stx/history.html

And here's what I learned:

PRE-COLUMBUS: Prior to, and less than a century after Columbus' discovery, St. Croix was inhabited by two tribes of Indians: the Caribs and the Arawaks.  The Arawaks were generally considered to be a peaceful tribe while the Caribs were warring cannibals. The word "cannibal" is in tribute to their fierce nature for it is derived from the Spanish word for Carib or "carribales." Washington Irving described the Caribs:
• "The hair of these savages was long and coarse, their eyes were encircled with paint, so as to give them hideous expression. Bands of cotton were bound firmly above and below the muscular parts of the arms and legs, so as to cause them to swell to a disproportionate size."

With such fearsome neighbors, the Arawaks were often forced to live on larger islands where they could retreat into the hills when attacked.

SPANISH: On November 14, 1493, Columbus made his first visit to "Ayay" (as the Indians called St. Croix) and renamed it Santa Cruz.  His reception by the Caribs gives testament to their violent character.  Upon anchoring at Salt River, a small boatload of Spaniards approached the shore and encountered a small canoe carrying four men and two women.  A battle ensued, which resulted from the Spaniards attempting to capture the natives.  One Carib and one Spaniard were killed. The remaining Caribs were taken prisoner.  This was the early beginning of what would soon be widely employed; slavery. In response to such conflict, Charles V of Spain declared that all Indians in the islands were enemies and should be eliminated.

A constant state of war existed between the Caribs and the Spaniards for nearly a century.  By 1596, the islands were  described as being wholly uninhabited.  St. Croix was not a major port for the Spanish -- San Juan, Puerto Rico was far more important.  Due to Indian attacks, bad weather, and general poor luck, the Virgin Islands were unfortunately described as "the useless islands."

Happy birthday indeed. Chris' discovery was like going to the moon in the late 1400's. It a pity about allthe brutality and violence but that's history.

DreamConch,
I think your ready for "Jeopardy"! ROFL

Lizard,
I love that game!! But, I would have had to answer
"Who was a Spanish Explorer who insisted he 'discovered' the New World??" HA!!

DreamConch,
Actually Chris was an Italian, commissioned by the Queen of Spain to sail her ships (three of them) to get to the far east. ST Croix got in the way. Maybe Deal or No Deal for you.LOL

How about Wheel of Fortune???
Those first ships were the Santa Maria, the Pinta, and the Nina.
He was sent back to Spain in chains after governing Haiti. After which he then
'discovered' Honduras, returning to Spain (an expat Italian) he died neglected.

Would have been a short stint for me on Jeopardy if that had been the Daily Double and I made
such a dodo mistake as that!!
Anyway, what a life of adventure, conquest, and politics.
Can you imagine how different the outcome would have been, had the inhabitants of St. Croix were wearing gold jewelry?? YIKES!! Would have been plundered long before sugarcane came along.

*disappointed, thought we were sharing cake on behalf of Chris@Work*

Columbus (or has dub poet Mutabaruka calls him, "Christopher come bus' us"): Poor fella was looking for India, and everywhere he landed, he called people "Indians". Such denial. How can you "discover" anyplace where there are people there before you anyways? I prefer to celebrate V.I./Puerto Rico Friendship Day, as the descendants of this push for worldwide domination make the best of what is now a brutal chapter in the history of this planet. I "observe" Columbus Day, but not with a lift in my heart.

Thanks Lex for the historical rundown, because I believe most people "celebrate" this day because they have no idea what Columbus and people of his ilk (Vespucci, De Soto, Cortez, et al) brought to the "new world", including what are now the United States of America. Also thanks for showing that man's inhumanity to mankind is not about a skin color; throughout the ages, the quest for dominance has led to slavery, apartheid, pillaging of resources and the ruin of established communities and civilizations.

*smiles broadly, the message broadcast* --- so, who wants pie???

Smiling broadly, I want pie!!

DreamConch,
He never Governed Haiti, Hispaniola (Santo Domingo, originally New Isabella)! Today known as Dominican Republic. Haiti was French Long After, and Shares the Island with Dominican Republic. DR built a very large monument and claims Chris is there!
We are running out of shows for you.

How about a re-run of "I Love Lucy"??
I rechecked my encyclopedia which states
he administered a colony in Haiti. Doesn't
imply he had been a governor. He died May 20, 1506
in Valladolid, Spain.
Do you suppose they returned his body for burial in DR??

DreamConch,
There was no Haiti at that time! Country, Colony, Island, State, County known as Haiti.

The Santa Maria ran aground Dec. 24, 1492 near the present site of
CAP-HAITIAN.
Columbus was forced to leave 39 men, founding the settlement of
LA NAVIDAD.
Hispanola was the name given the island, part of which became known as Haiti.

Maybe I should be on American Idol.

I'm disappointed as well...had to check my drivers license just to make sure though.

Chris@Work: ROTFLMAO!!!

DreamConch: Not exactly birthday cake (ref: Chris@Work) but it'll do... *grin*

Not sure who is going to win Jeopardy but Columbus never landed or disocovered North America. He did land on his first voyage in the Bahamas - on San Salvador Island (if I remember history) - on October 12, 1492. Then continued to Cuba and Hispanola. I believe it was his second voyage that he came upon St. Croix.
In fact, jI caught just a bit last night of PBS' airing the "re-enactment" of his voyage and was disappointed that I hadn't turned it on sooner. http://pressroom.pbs.org/documents/magnificent_voyage_of.doc

A. Davis wrote: "How can you "discover" anyplace where there are people there before you anyways?"

Kind of like "discovering" that you have a new plasma TV in your living room.....while the original owner is discovering that it is missing from theirs.

Historians have used the word "discovered" with a connotative meaning such as to find, fall over, came across etc. He was looking for a trade route for China/India. However Semantics can be fun. I'M going to have my Birthday cake left over from yesterday.

So, you have the same birthday a Chris Colombo, eh??
Discovered, tripped over, toppled over, ran into anything 'new' lately, Lizard?? Hee-hee.