WILMINGTON, N.C. — A piece of history is making an appearance along the Cape Fear River in Wilmington.

It’s a replica of the Nao Trinidad, a tall ship that was part of a historic voyage 500 years ago.

What You Need To Know

  • The Nao Trinidad replica ship will be docked in Wilmington and open for tours through Sunday

  • The original ship was built in the 1500s and set sail around the world. It was one of the ships that helped prove that the world was round

  • The Nao Trinidad sank in the Philippines, and the replica was built in 2018

Jose Garcia lives a life from another time — literally. He works aboard the Nao Trinidad as a cook and sailor and shares its past with the world.

Sailor Jose Garcia stands aboard the Nao Trinidad. (Spectrum News 1/Natalie Mooney)

“I have started in 2018, in June, and since then, I have been sailing with this ship around the world,” Garcia said. “I have been in Canada, United States, Panama, Mexico, of course Spain, Portugal and France.”

It’s an exciting life — but also an important one.

“We are onboard of the Nao Trinidad,” Garcia said. “Which is the flagship of the first expedition around the Earth.”

The Nao Trinidad, built in the 1500s, was part of an important expedition and discovery.

“That exploration was very interesting because we demonstrate that the Earth was round,” Garcia said “Not flat as they thought back in the days.”

Sailor Jose Garcia demonstrates how the ship was steered before the invention of the steering wheel. (Spectrum News 1/Natalie Mooney)

The Nao Trinidad sank in the Philippines while trying to complete this expedition, and the Nao Victoria finished in its place. This replica of the mission’s flagship was built in 2018, and since then, has been making stops in cities all around the world.

Now, people can tour the ship and see what life on the sea was like in the 1500s from how the crew slept and ate right down to how the boat was steered.

“One very interesting thing is the way we steered the boat,” Garcia said. “We didn’t have the wheel, because the wheel was invented in the 18th century, so we have the whip staff.”

It’s a unique ship with a rich history, and Garcia hopes that those who come aboard will leave with a deeper appreciation of this small bit of living history and its huge impact on the world.

The Nao Trinidad replica ship is docked in downtown Wilmington. (Spectrum News 1/Natalie Mooney)

“If just people remind what they discovered and this is small bit of history, and we’re proud of it,” Garcia said. “So that’s why we’re sailing around the world, to show this little bit of history.”

You can visit the Nao Trinidad now through Saturday from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. and Sunday from 12 p.m. to 6 p.m. 

Tickets can be purchased here or at the ship.

After its stop in Wilmington, the Nao Trinidad will continue on its journey, stopping in Florida next.