Exploring the world

Who got to the Americas first? The unique journeys of 10 iconic explorers

Credit: Nathan Hurst

Nowadays, you can buy your ticket, take a plane, and fly almost anywhere in the world. But this was not always the case. Throughout history, some people have dedicated their lives to exploring unknown parts of the Earth, getting on big ships, and setting sail with little more than hopes and a few wild theories. Today, we're revisiting the journeys of 10 iconic explorers who changed the course of history, making huge contributions to culture, trade, and science. Let's start this adventure!

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Let's travel more than 1000 years into the past to talk about Leif Erikson, one of the earliest renowned explorers in history.

Erikson, a Norse born around 970 CE in what is now Iceland, is recognized as the first European to set foot on mainland America. That's right! Archaeological evidence suggests he had been here almost 500 years before Christopher Columbus. Impressive, isn't it?

In the 11th century, Erikson explored the coasts of North America and is thought to have established a Norse settlement in an area known as Vinland, which many historians believe was located in present-day Newfoundland, Canada.

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Do you remember what you were doing when you were 17? Most of us were in high school, but that was not the case for Marco Polo, who, at the age of 17, was starting an epic journey from Venice, Italy, to China!

Marco Polo's expedition to Asia began in the year 1271. Although trade had provided Europe with some knowledge about Asia, their understanding of "the East" was quite limited- at that time, Europeans weren't even aware of the existence of the Americas!- In this context, Marco Polo's journey was not only important but also innovative and risky.

Together with his father, he traveled overland along the Silk Road and reached the Chinese Empire in 1275. But that's not all: he spent 17 years there! You can read everything he saw, learned, met, and experienced there in the famous The Travels of Marco Polo.

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Sometimes, mistakes or unforeseen events end up bringing big changes. That's what happened when the famous Christopher Columbus reached the Caribbean coast, thinking he had arrived in Asia.

As you probably already know, the Genoese set sail from Spain in 1492 in search of a westbound route to Asia. However, a few months after setting sail, Columbus and his ships arrived not in Asia but in the Caribbean on October 12, 1492. Unaware of his amazing finding, Columbus made 3 more voyages to the "New World."

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The Age of Exploration wouldn't have been the same without the iconic Vasco da Gama. Born around 1460 in Portugal, he's famous for nothing less than being the first European to reach India by sea.

At that time, trade between Europe and India was only by land, with many intermediaries involved. Therefore, establishing a safe sea route for trade was a crucial achievement at the time.

Da Gama set sail from Lisbon, Portugal, in 1497. He skirted the coasts of Africa and successfully reached India in 1498. But this major feat didn't end there; da Gama made two more voyages in 1502 and 1524, expanding Portugal's power over the region.

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In 1497, another European set sail in search of Asia, but he ended up exploring the coasts of North America instead.

John Cabot was born in Venice as Giovanni Caboto around 1450. In 1497, he was sent by the English crown to seek a westbound route to reach Asia, but just like Columbus, he encountered America. He arrived in Newfoundland, Canada, without being fully aware of where he was, and he claimed part of present-day Canada and the United States for England.

Cabot is considered the first European to explore the coasts of North America since the Norse voyages, which marked the beginning of England's exploration and land claims in the New World.

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Ferdinand Magellan is a familiar name, right? He was born around 1480 in northern Portugal and would become one of the most famous explorers in history.

In 1519, he set sail from Spain towards the West in search of the "Spice Islands," which was the name for present-day Indonesia. Along the way, he discovered a passage connecting the Atlantic Ocean to another body of water that he named "The Peaceful Sea," known now as the Pacific Ocean. That passage would later take his name: the Strait of Magellan.

In 1521, he and his crew reached The Philippines. Although he lost his life there, the expedition continued and returned to Spain in 1522, completing the very first successful circumnavigation of the globe!

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More than 50 years after Magellan, Sir Francis Drake also completed the feat of circumnavigating the globe, becoming the first Englishman to achieve this.

He and his 5 ships began their voyage from Plymouth, England, in 1577. They crossed the Atlantic to what is now the east coast of Argentina. Drake traveled through South America, facing Spanish troops settled in the area.

In 1578, they were crossing the Strait of Magellan. But, before they reached the Pacific, a huge storm hit Drake's crew. Only his ship was able to make it through. With just one vessel, he sailed along the west coast of the Americas, reaching modern California to claim that territory for England. The voyage continued to the Philippines, then crossed the Indian Ocean, the coasts of Africa again, and finally returned to Plymouth in 1580.

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Undoubtedly one of the greatest explorers and navigators of the 18th century, James Cook was born in 1728 in Yorkshire, England. But Cook was not just an explorer; he was also an artist! From a young age, he developed skills in navigation and cartography, mapping large areas with incredible accuracy.

On the first of his major voyages, from 1768 to 1771, he traveled the South Pacific, becoming one of the first Europeans to circumnavigate New Zealand and make a detailed map of the entire region.

On a second voyage, from 1772 to 1775, he traveled South and crossed the Antarctic Circle! On his third and last voyage, from 1776 to 1779, he reached the Hawaiian Islands, making detailed maps of the area and contributing enormously to the geographic knowledge of the Earth and the Pacific Ocean, specifically.

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In 1803, the United States doubled the size of its territory thanks to what we know as the Louisiana Purchase. With so much new territory in our country, someone had to explore it properly. President Thomas Jefferson entrusted this job to Meriwether Lewis and William Clark.

The Lewis and Clark Expedition, also known as the Corps of Discovery, began in St. Louis, Missouri, in 1804. They traveled up the Missouri River, crossed the Rocky Mountains, and reached the Pacific Ocean! Then, they successfully returned to Missouri in 1806.

These two explorers traveled enormous distances and examined key areas in our territory, discovering new routes and thus helping to improve the country's understanding and knowledge of its lands.

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Our adventure has now reached the 20th century, specifically the year 1969. Since we had already explored almost every corner of the Earth, we humans decided to look up and go for interstellar conquests.

In those years, there was an explorer who, instead of setting sail on tumultuous seas, boarded a spacecraft to cross outer space and reach the Moon!

We're talking about the American Neil Armstrong, astronaut, engineer, and naval aviator. His most famous mission was Apollo 11, thanks to which he became the first human being to set foot on the Moon. You know: "That's one small step for [a] man, one giant leap for mankind."

BEHIND THE STARS

Discover These 10 Facts You Didn't Know About The Hollywood Walk Of Fame

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Renowned across the globe and standing as one of the most visited tourist attractions in the explosive city of Los Angeles, the Hollywood Walk of Fame hasn't always been the iconic landmark we know today. With a long history spiced with humorous anecdotes and moments of glamour, but also with its percentage of disputes, delays, mistakes, and even thefts, the stars on Hollywood Boulevard are an irresistible spectacle, captivating the attention of everybody.

So, read on if you're up to discover 10 fascinating facts you probably didn't know about the iconic Walk of Fame in the City of Angels!

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Today, the Hollywood Walk of Fame spans over 15 blocks, boasting the celebrated names of the entertainment industry's most iconic stars. But every tale begins with a single step, right? Once upon a time, there was the inaugural star.

That honor went to producer and director Stanley Kramer, a true visionary in early 20th-century American cinema. This inauguration took place on February 8, 1960, that's right, more than 60 years ago.

While there had been temporary displays of stars featuring various names before Kramer's, his star was the first to be immortalized permanently on the iconic Walk.

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Did you know that, besides the intention of honoring celebrities, the Walk of Fame emerged as a clever strategy to beautify that area of the city and thus attract more tourists? The stars permanently engraved on the sidewalks would give visitors the impression that they are even closer to their beloved idols.

Although the idea first came up in 1953, it took a long time to materialize fully: about 7 years. And that's not all; legend has it that the initial prototype not only featured the name inside the star but also included a caricature of the honoree.

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But the path forward was far from easy. After the initial placement of 1500 stars on the Walk, eight long years passed without any new additions. Those years marked a period of low traffic in the area.

However, after considerable effort, film producer Richard Darryl Zanuck—you know him for producing films such as The Sting (1973) and Cocoon **(1985)**—was honored in 1968 with an eye-catching ceremony, setting a precedent that would shape the way new stars were introduced at the now iconic location.

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We all make mistakes; it's part of being human. And even those responsible for designing the stars on the Walk aren't immune to a slip-up.

Adding to the charm of the place, a couple of stars had some unexpected typos in the honorees' names. For example, in 1993, the iconic Dick Van Dyke found his last name transformed into "Vandyke" on his star. Fortunately, the blunder didn't stick for long before it was corrected.

However, some stars kept their typos. One particularly paradoxical example is the first name of cinematography pioneer Auguste Lumière, which was spelled as "August."

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With the beginning of the prestigious ceremonies in the Walk of Fame, a set of guidelines came into play.

Among these guidelines there is one pivotal rule: as the star on the Walk is considered an award shared by the celebrities and their fans, the honoree must give prior confirmation that they will attend the unveiling.

Rumor has it that many years ago**, Bruce Springsteen**, the legendary musician, declined to attend his ceremony upon nomination. His decision sparked a significant conversation about the importance of participation in the esteemed event. Thus, this regulation is now known as the "Springsteen Clause."

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Attendance is requested, with no exceptions, even for those who live beyond the realms of our reality!

Many characters, beloved by fans around the globe, exist in the fantasy world. However, it would be unfair to deny these icons their rightful place among the stars on the Walk of Fame just because of their fictional nature.

As a result, multiple animated characters and even puppets have been honored at the Walk. Among them are Disney celebs like Mickey and Minnie Mouse, Donald Duck, and Snow White; iconic movie stars like Shrek and the great Godzilla; as well as classics like Bugs Bunny and Snoopy.

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There are some undoubtedly established names whose absence from the famous Boulevard may strike you. Well, in some cases, this is because the nominated celebrity did not agree to go through with the process. Of course, each superstar has their own peculiar motivations and considerations guiding their choices.

Among the celebrities who reportedly rejected their star or just remained indifferent to their nominations are the legendary Julia Roberts, Leonardo DiCaprio, and the iconic Queen of Pop, Madonna herself!

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The stunning Walk of Fame stars glow under the bright lights, drawing in both locals and visitors alike. But what many don't realize is the intricate process that lies behind each of these iconic symbols.

From design to production and installation to the pomposity of the opening ceremony, every step has its price. So let's not forget the bulky fees, which currently hover around $75,000 per star!

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Even in this world of glam, crime lurks in the shadows. Believe it or not, some stars adorning the Walk of Fame have been stolen.

Back in 2000, during a construction modification at the site, Kirk Douglas' and James Stewart's stars mysteriously vanished from their spots. Shortly after, the thief was apprehended, bringing relief to fans and authorities.

But there is a third case that remains unsolved. In 2005, someone took the star of the iconic Gregory Peck, using tools to remove it from the concrete (it's worth mentioning that each star weighs an impressive 300 pounds!). The perpetrator and the original star were never found.

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As we walk these streets, we are captivated not only by the glamour on the surface but also by the hidden treasures that lie beneath.

In 2010, a time capsule was buried 4 feet under the iconic Walk, precisely at the corner of Hollywood Boulevard and Highland Avenue. Within the small metal box are 50 carefully selected items, symbolizing the 50th anniversary of the site. Among these treasures lie a miniature replica of the iconic Capitol Records building, a script from the classic Casablanca, a fragment of Elvis Presley's star, and a collection of newspaper articles about the Walk of Fame.

In 2060, exactly 50 years after its burial, the capsule will be unearthed, revealing its secrets to a new generation.