On September 30, 1787, the first US voyage around the world occurred; the privately owned ship Columbia Rediviva left Boston. From the article:
"Early authorities claim the ship was built in 1773 by James Briggs at Hobart's Landing on North River, in Norwell, Massachusetts and named Columbia.[1] Later historians say she was built in Plymouth, Massachusetts in 1787. In 1790 she became the first American ship to circumnavigate the globe. During the first part of this voyage, she was accompanied by Lady Washington which served as tender for Columbia. In 1792 Captain Gray entered the Columbia River and named it after the ship. The river and its basin, in turn, lent its name to the surrounding region, and subsequently to the British colony and Canadian province located in part of this region.
The ship was decommissioned and salvaged in 1806. A replica of Lady Washington is homeported at Grays Harbor Historical Seaport in Aberdeen, Washington.[2]
First mates
Simeon Woodruff, under the command of Kendrick, serving September to November 1787. A former gunner's mate during the final voyage of Captain James Cook, R.N., was the only man in the entire Columbia Expedition leaving Boston on the first voyage to have been to the Pacific.[3]
Joseph Ingraham, under the command of Kendrick. In 1790 he was captain of Hope that competed with the Columbia in the fur trade.[4]
Robert Haswell, under the command of Gray in 1791–93 during the second voyage to the Pacific Northwest.[3]
Legacy
In 1958, a full-scale replica of the ship opened as an attraction, named "Sailing Ship Columbia", in Frontierland at Walt Disney's Magic Kingdom of Disneyland, and the three-masted vessel continues to ply the Rivers of America there most days of the year. Contained within the hull is "Below Decks", which is an exhibit of nautical artifacts from the 18th Century that passengers can visit while on board.
In 1969, the name was used for the Command/Service Module of Apollo 11, which landed humans on the moon for the first time.
In 1981, the name was re-used for the Space Shuttle Columbia by NASA.[5]"