Columbus Day at a glance
October 12, 2009
Whether viewed as hero or heel, Christopher Columbus remains an American history icon.
Columbus Day, the second Monday of October, was once widely celebrated by Americans, but some historians believe changing perceptions of history has caused the holiday to fall out of favor.
"It is not as celebrated as it has been in the past, particularly in the last 20 years," said Scott Sosebee, associate professor of history at Stephen F. Austin State University and executive director of the East Texas Historical Association. "A lot of people don't see Columbus as heroic as he was seen in the past."
Sosebee said some historians see Columbus' discovery of America as a negative event for the toll it took on native Americans. The historical campaign against the explorer has taken its toll on the man's image and holiday, but Sosebee said people should remember the holiday and what it means for the country.
Archie McDonald, SFA history professor and community liaison, said the holiday is still fairly celebrated in cities in the Northeast. He said the holiday should be a big deal for what it represents.
"We were discovered by Europeans," McDonald said. "His discovery came at just the right time. ... It burst out of the Medieval period."
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- Christopher Columbus was an Italian explorer.
- Columbus set sail to find a westward route to Asia in August 1492 after gaining sponsorship from Spanish monarchs Ferdinand II and Isabella I.
- He sailed with three ships, the Santa Maria, the Nina and the Pinta.
- About Oct. 12, 1492, Columbus sighted land in the Bahamas. He returned to Spain in March 1493 with information about the New World.
- Columbus made three more voyages to the New World before his death in 1504.
- The first recorded celebration honoring the discovery of America occurred Oct. 12, 1792, in New York City. The event celebrated the 300th anniversary of Columbus landing in America.
- President Benjamin Harrison called for a 400th anniversary celebration in 1892, and the Pledge of Allegiance was recited publicly for the first time.
- Colorado was the first state to observe the holiday in 1905.
- In 1937, President Franklin D. Roosevelt named Oct. 12 as Columbus Day.
- In 1971, President Richard Nixon declared the second Monday of October to be a national holiday.