Replicas of Niña And Pinta Sail Into Wyandotte

WYANDOTTE (CBS Detroit) - From July 6 until July 8, people around southeast Michigan will have chance to set foot on near-perfect replicas of two iconic ships - Christopher Columbus' Niña and the Pinta.

With Independence Day celebrations all week, a visit to the floating museums is a great way to cap off the holiday.

The Niña, Pinta and Santa Maria were three ships that Columbus commanded on his first passage to the "New World" and are forever connected with the exploration of the Americas.

The ships are the most accurate replicas of the ships in existence.  Their three-day stop in Wyandotte is one of a sixteen-part 2012 summer tour series, and is the only stop in southeast Michigan.

The two ships will be on exhibit as part of the Downriver Explorers Festival, hosted by the City of Wyandotte and Opportunity Grosse Ile.

The Columbus Foundation, which operates the floating museums, will show the ships to visitors during half-hour tours.  The two ships are literally floating museums that travel the world giving visitors a unique glance into the lives of sailors during the 15th century.

The tall ships will travel up the Detroit River and will dock at the Bishop Park dock in Wyandotte.  They are traveling from Rochester, NY and will arrive in Wyandotte on Thursday, July 5.

General admission for the half-hour tours are $8 for adults, $7 for seniors and $6 for children ages 5 to 16.  Children under the age of 4 are free.  The ships will be open to the public from 9 a.m. until 6 p.m. on Friday, Saturday and Sunday.

For more information, call (313) 980-9138.