Columbus Day is a U.S. holiday that commemorates the landing of Christopher Columbus in the Americas in 1492, and Columbus Day 2025 occurs on Monday, October 13. It was unofficially celebrated in a number of cities and states as early as the 18th century, but did not become a federal holiday until 1937. For many, the holiday is a way of both honoring Columbus’ achievements and celebrating Italian-American heritage. But throughout its history, Columbus Day and the man who inspired it have generated controversy, and many alternatives to the holiday have been proposed since the 1970s including Indigenous People’s Day, now celebrated in many U.S. states and cities.

Editor’s note: The above article is from history.com. The Banner appreciates having permission to use the image on the homepage by Brigitte Werner from Pixabay.