Columbus Day Observed Today

THE WOODLANDS, Texas - On Monday, October 11, 2010 America observes Columbus Day, which celebrates the anniversary of the October 12, 1492 arrival of Christopher Columbus to America. Columbus accidentally discovered the Americas during an expedition to the West, in which he hoped to find a naval route to India. Instead of going south past Africa, around the Cape of Good Hope, Columbus had thought it would be easier to sail directly west.

In those times the Americas were mostly unknown to Europe, Africa, and Asia. His famed expedition triggered great European interest in the New World and would spur the colonization of North and South America.

The first Columbus Day celebration was held in 1792 in New York City to celebrate the 300th anniversary of Columbus' discovery of the New World. In 1892, President Benjamin Harrison called upon the nation to celebrate Columbus Day. However in 1905, Colorado became the first state to officially observe a Columbus Day. Over the next few decades other states followed and In 1937 President Franklin Roosevelt proclaimed every October 12 as Columbus Day.

The holiday has been commemorated in the U.S. on the second Monday in October since 1971. Banks, the U.S. Postal Service, federal offices, and most state government offices will be closed Monday in observance of Columbus Day.