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Interesting US History
A Website Devoted to Interesting Events in U.S. History

 

 
 

 

ON THIS DAY IN UNITED STATES HISTORY

October 12, 1792

Columbus Day is Celebrated for the First Time

On this day in 1792, Columbus's arrival in the Americas was celebrated for the first time. It did not become an official holiday in the United States until 1934 although it had become an official holiday in some states previous to that.

Opposition to the celebration of Columbus day began almost from the moment it began and grew in the 20th century. The opposition stems from the idea that Columbus caused more harm than good in particular with the treatment of the Native American population from the time of his voyage through the European colonization of the new world.