The Evolution of Columbus Day Celebrations, From Italian Immigrant Pride to Indigenous Recognition

The holiday has been controversial practically since its inception

Rebeca Coleman; Updated by Sonja Anderson

Updated: October 6, 2023 | Originally Published: October 10, 2016

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“In 1492, Columbus sailed the ocean blue.” It’s a rhyme many people remember from their elementary school days, when they learned about the different explorers who came to the Americas in the 15th and 16th centuries, including Christopher Columbus.

People in the United States have been holding celebrations of Columbus since 1792, when the Society of St. Tammany, also known as the Columbian Order, commemorated the 300th anniversary of his landing in the “New World.” (Ironically, the Columbian Order appropriated language from the very peoples who suffered because of their eponymous hero: adopting a legendary Delaware chief as their patron and using titles like “brave” and “sachem” for their members.)

On the next centennial, in 1892, President Benjamin Harrison issued a proclamation encouraging Americans to celebrate Columbus’ discovery and the four centuries of American life he’d enabled, describing the Renaissance explorer as “the pioneer of progress and enlightenment.”  In honoring Columbus, Harrison also hoped to encourage acceptance of Italian immigrants, who shared a heritage with the Renaissance explorer and had been violently attacked in the United States. In 1934, President Franklin Roosevelt declared Columbus Day a federal holiday.

Italian-American pride on full display at Columbus Day Parade

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In 2021, the United States officially added another designation to October’s second Monday: Indigenous Peoples’ Day. The proclamation followed decades of protest against Columbus Day celebrations, as awareness of the explorer’s actions towards Indigenous people increased. Many had begun to ask: Why celebrate such plundering and pillaging?

Italian Americans have a rich history in New Jersey. Today we honor the achievements, successes, and heritage of Italian immigrants and Italian Americans. #ColumbusDay

— Governor Phil Murphy (@GovMurphy) October 10, 2022

In 1990, South Dakota became the first state to officially recognize Columbus Day as Native American Day, reported the New York Times. And in 1992, Berkeley, California, became the first city to declare Columbus Day as Indigenous Peoples’ Day. Each year since then, the city has celebrated with a pow wow and Indian market, organized by local residents.

From early romanticism of Columbus’ New World voyage to complicated commemorations of Indigenous culture and history, here’s a timeline showing the evolution of celebrations on October’s second Monday.

Sonja Anderson is a daily correspondent for Smithsonian magazine who covers art, archaeology and culture, from newly discovered artifacts to the latest art heists.