Canarian Museums and Columbus House, the history of Las Palmas de Gran Canaria

I have already made five trips to Las Palmas de Gran Canaria – City Life, History & Island Vibes and I have seen over the years how the city has evolved.

But what hasn't changed is its history, or has it...

Las Palmas de Gran Canaria – City Life, History & Island Vibes It has always been a crossroads due to its geographical location.

From the prehispanic cultures, passing through the connection with Christopher Columbus, and ending with the migrations to AmericaHere cultures mix and stories intersect.

Research and discoveries continue to be made that are shaping what was thought about both the first settlers and the evolution of the island.

La history of this city tells how the islands have been in the middle of major global movements: expansion, trade, migration…

All of this has left its mark, and this legacy is still here, in the identity of the Canarians, who have a bit of Europe, a bit of Africa and a Caribbean soul that is not lost.

A walk through the history of Las Palmas through its museums

In this article I will tell you the most relevant moments of the History of Las Palmas de Gran Canaria, which can be better understood through their two most important museums.

The specific objectives of the Canary museum, where you can see the pre-Hispanic origin of the Canarian population, and the Columbus House museum, with the story of the famous navigator and his connection to the island.

If you are going to visit the city, make a note of these two museums as essential visits, for their history and for how well they are decorated.

First settlers of Las Palmas de Gran Canaria

The oldest data we have so far on the history of Las Palmas dates back to the 3rd century AD. Christ, although this could change.

Why? Because remains have been found in some places that could bring back these dates.

But, be careful, this is not official yet, these are suspicions.

How did the Amazigh population arrive in Gran Canaria?

The origin of the first settlers remains a subject full of hypotheses.

As far as we know today, we are talking about a population Amazigh (Berber) from North Africa, who, moreover, was not known for being a sailor.

So how did they get to the islands? There are several theories:

1. Fleeing from riots in North Africa.
   After the disappearance of Carthage, with the expansion of the Romans or even with the arrival of the Arabs, the situation in that area was very turbulent. It is possible that part of this population fled in search of refuge.
2. Roman deportation.
   Another hypothesis is that they were brought to the islands as punishment, deported by the Romans. It would be a kind of forced exile.
3. Phoenicians or Carthaginians.
   There are also those who suggest that they could have been Phoenicians or Carthaginians, although this raises doubts. Some experts say that the Carthaginians had no reason to leave the Mediterranean coast and venture beyond the Cape Bojador.

Did they all arrive at the same time? It seems not, as it is believed that the population arrived in different migrations, not all at once.

And why is this thought? Because of the differences observed in the types of burials and in the social development of the island's inhabitants.

Furthermore, it makes sense that the easternmost islands, such as Lanzarote o Fuerteventura, may have been populated before the western ones. But again these are hypotheses.

History of Las Palmas in the Canarian Museum

La History of Las Palmas de Gran Canaria It can be better understood by visiting places like the Canarian Museum, where archaeological remains are exhibited and these theories about the island's first settlers are explored.

It is a spectacular place to connect with this part of the island's history.

The museum is made up of several rooms where the different settlers, their ways of life and the archaeological collection of Gran Canaria.

From what their lives were like in small houses or in stone mounds, to an impressive mummy collection.

Yes, you read that right, because there were real mummies on the islands. I explain this in depth in this video:

When was Las Palmas de Gran Canaria founded?

La History of Las Palmas de Gran Canaria starts on June 24th, 1478, Which is the date of its foundation with the name of Royal Palace of the Three Palms, for three palm trees that, they say, symbolized el Father, Son, and Holy Spirit.

The place was perfectly chosen, close to the Guiniguada Ravine, an area with water and palm trees and outside the areas inhabited by indigenous people. It was a no-man's land.

At that time the island was divided between two guanartematos (as cantons): Galma and Telde.

The Spanish did not arrive here blind because they brought trujamanes y coffins, who were translators captured on other islands and who helped them find their way.

Names of the city throughout history

Over time, the name of the city changed from Royal Palace of the Three Palms a, simply, Royal Palms, because of course, people tend to shorten names.

Later, Joan of Castile He added grandiloquent titles like The Great Noble Royal and Loyal City of Las Palmas, and already in the 18th century it began to be called Las Palmas de Gran Canaria – City Life, History & Island Vibes to differentiate it from the province.

Las Palmas has a lot phytotoponymy, which is the idea of ​​naming places after plants.

The name of the neighborhood of Vegueta, for example, it comes from the sugar cane vegas that were planted at the beginning, crops that encouraged the beginning of the city's growth.

Treaty of Tordesillas, why the Canary Islands are Spanish islands

Here is an interesting historical note. In the famous Tratado de tordesillas, which divided the world between Spain and Portugal, the Canary Islands appear as an exception.

Although they were initially in the Portuguese zone, they were already under Spanish rule since Treaty of Alcázar, so the Portuguese did not take them.

That explains why canaries are spanish, although the Canary Islands remained on the edge of that line that divided the Atlantic.

Columbus and his connection with Gran Canaria

An interesting question about the History of Las Palmas de Gran Canaria is to know why Christopher Columbus made a stopover in the city, a fact that changed this history.

When Christopher Columbus He decided to stop in the Canary Islands before crossing the Atlantic, his main idea was to refuel with food and other supplies necessary for the trip.

The navigator already had references of what he was going to find here, since he was working with the Castilla's crown, and at that time, all the islands, except Tenerife and La Palma, had been conquered and were part of it.

They were in process, but not yet under full control.

Since when were they Castilian? Not long before their arrival; Gran Canaria, for example, was conquered in 1483, so barely nine years had passed.

Why did Columbus stop in Las Palmas de Gran Canaria?

Christopher Columbus I had not planned to stop at Gran Canaria, that's the reality.

What happened is that in 1492, on his first voyage, he realized that he had “messed up” with the sails of the ships because they carried lateen sail, which is perfect for the Mediterranean coast, but not to cross the Ocean.

To make matters worse, his rudder also broke, so he had no choice but to stop where he could, in Gran Canaria.

And here's the joke, Colón I had no idea that I would become so dependent on this island; I arrived here by accident, but ended up stopping here on three of the four voyages I made during my lifetime.

Did he sleep on land? We don't know, because sailors usually stayed on the ship.

This is the Casa Colón Museum in Las Palmas

What we do know is that it went through the local governor's house, which today is part of the famous House of Columbus, although what we see now are facades from the 20th century.

It is a beautiful museum because of its location and the interesting history it contains.

This museum dedicated to the voyages of Columbus and, especially, its connection with the history of Las Palmas de Gran Canaria, has three main areas:

1. The first one tells us about the navigator, his relationship with the island and the migrations of the Canarians to America.
2. On the upper floor there is an art gallery, models and information on a very interesting topic: the attack of the dutch pirates in the sixteenth century.
3. La criptaFinally, it houses pre-Columbian art, a sample of the impact of the discovery in America and Europe.

Migrations to America and the blood tribute

A very interesting part of the history of Las Palmas de Gran Canaria – City Life, History & Island Vibes are the years after the visits of Christopher Columbus.

We go back to the 17th century, since at that time there was a curious pact between the Canarian elites and the Spanish crown called blood tribute.

It worked like this: for every thousand tons of trade with the Caribbean, the Canaries sent settlers to America. Why? Because there was a shortage of people there, and sending people helped defend the territories.

Furthermore, at the end of the 17th century things in the Canary Islands were not going well at all.

Portugal had ceased to be part of Spain in 1632, which had a serious impact on the wine trade, which was the economic engine of the island. There was famine and many people decided to emigrate.

The link between the Canary Islands and America

Destinations like Cuba (for tobacco), Puerto Rico (for the coffee) and Uruguay (due to livestock farming and agriculture) they became the places where the Canarians sought a new life.

They even came to Venezuela, where they used the Orinoco river to expand livestock farming.

In Florida, although it was more inhospitable, the canaries helped in the War of Independence and then in the American Civil War, settling in areas such as San Bernardino.

El The link between the Canary Islands and America It is not just a thing of the past, because for centuries, migrations have left a deep cultural mark.

Today, in places like San Bernardino or Uruguay, farmers are still called “canarios” and there are people who speak Spanish with an accent reminiscent of that of the islands.

It's funny, isn't it? The reason is that many of these people left never to return, and so they have left an indelible mark.