Events Mark First Voyage by Columbus

A weeklong series of lectures, a children’s art exhibit and other free events to celebrate the 500th anniversary of Christopher Columbus’ first voyage begins today. “Discovery Week,” based on the theme of discovery and learning, is coordinated by city of Santa Ana Recreation and Community Services Department, the Santa Ana Public Library, the Santa Ana Unified School District and the Orange County American Italian Renaissance Foundation, which conducts activities relating to Italian history.

Here is a list of the events, all but the last of which will take place at the Santa Ana Public Library, 26 Civic Center Plaza:

Today

* “Discovering the Earth, Harvest and Ecology,” artwork by children from Lincoln Elementary School in Santa Ana. On view through Saturday. Hours are 10 a.m. to 6 p.m.

* “It Is All History,” 6:30 p.m. lecture on the history of Europe and the Americas by Chapman University professor James Miller.

Tuesday

* “Africans in Mexico,” 6:30 p.m. lecture about Afro-American history in the Americas by Cal State Los Angeles graduate student Mike Carter.

Wednesday

* “Literature: The Spirit of the New World,” 6:30 p.m. lecture by UC Irvine professor Alejandro Morales.

Thursday

* “Columbia Before Columbus,” 6:30 p.m. lecture about visual arts in the Americas during the last millennium by Armand Labbe, Bowers Museum curator.

Friday

* “500 Years of Colonialism,” 2 p.m. lecture about American Indian history by Paula Starr Robideau of the Southern California Indian Center.

Saturday

* “De Las Casas: First Human Rights Champion of the Americas,” 2 p.m. reading of the work of Dominican friar Bartolome De Las Casas by Readers Theater.

* Rededication of a plaque commemorating Columbus that was removed from the Civic Center during renovation. To take place at the Plaza of the Flags in Santa Ana Civic Center from 10:30 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. Entertainment and refreshments.

Information: (714) 571-4238.