Replicas of the Nina and the Pinta, 2 of explorer Christopher Columbus' sailing ships, have docked in Peoria and are open for public viewing.
The ships are on a yearlong journey that takes them from the Gulf Coast to the East Coast to the Great Lakes.
The ships dock 30 to 40 times during the trip to give people a chance to take tours and talk to the crew members. Volunteers crew the ships, which are considered floating museums.
The hand-built ships are equipped with diesel engines and modern navigation gear, but Nina captain Kyle Friauf adds he uses a compass and the sails as often as he can.