October 14th, 2013
Columbus Live Tweets First Siting of America

Today, many un-furloughed Americans find themselves with a day off of work, thanks to Columbus Day, which celebrates the 521^st anniversary of Columbus’s first encounter with the Americas. On October 12, 1492, at around two in the morning, Rodrigo de Triana, a lookout on the Pinta, caught the first glimpse of the new world. However, Columbus later contested this version of events, saying that he had seen light on the horizon hours before and was therefore the first to see land, earning him a pension from the Spanish monarchs who sponsored the voyage. What follows are a series of tweets he used as primary evidence that he saw land first.

Christopher Columbus @TheRealColombo

Just saw a light flickering on the horizon. Is that you, Asia? #nailedit #isawitfirst #suckonthatcrew

12:34 AM – 12 Oct 1492

Christopher Columbus @TheRealColombo

Def just saw a light. Asia here we come! #foundthewesternroute

Christopher Columbus @TheRealColombo

Gonna import mad spices, yo. #AdmiraloftheOceanandSea #iget10percent

1:06 AM – 12 Oct 1492

Christopher Columbus @TheRealColombo

@RodrigodeTriana just said he saw land first. #asif #tryingtostealmypension #explorerproblems

2:13 AM – 12 Oct 1492

Christopher Columbus @TheRealColombo

Seriously, @RodrigodeTriana, no way you saw that land all the way from the Pinta. #dontstealcredit #gonnagetthrownoverboard

2:26 AM – 12 Oct 1492

Christopher Columbus @TheRealColombo

Hey, @FerdinandandIsabella, check my newsfeed. I saw it first. #gimmemypension #suckitRodrigodeTriana

2:37 AM – 12 Oct 1492

Christopher Columbus @TheRealColombo

@FerdinandandIsabella Bet the light came from natives. Hope they make good slaves! #takingovertheglobe #iheartslavery #smallpoxblankets!

2:43 AM – 12 Oct 1492

Christopher Columbus @TheRealColombo

Hey, @JustFerdinand, I wonder if the women here are friendly to strangers? ;) #donttellIsabella #gonnagetsome #explorerswag #goingnative

3:02 AM – 12 Oct 1492

Christopher Columbus @TheRealColombo

@RodrigodeTriana, stop talking about how you’re going to spend your pension from @FerdinandandIsabella. They know you’re lying! #canthidethetruth

3:07 AM – 12 Oct 1492

Christopher Columbus @TheRealColombo

Heading to my quarters. Gotta rest before we head to shore tomorrow morning. #rapeandpilagetime #Columbusout

3:21 AM – 12 Oct 1492