Columbus Day - A Brief History

According to the well-known poem, Christopher Columbus discovered North America "In 1492" .  However, can one really "discover" a country that is already inhabited?  Moreover, evidence exists that the Vikings had in fact visited North America 500 years before Columbus.

That said, the "discovery" of the Americas by Columbus marked a new era and relationship between Europe and America.  Though most intellectuals in the 15 th century believed the earth was round - it was not until the 1492 voyage that Columbus was able to prove that the world was indeed round.

Beginnings of Columbus Day

In 1792 the Colombian order celebrated the 300 th anniversary of Christopher Columbus' discovery of the "New World" in New York .  Italian New Yorkers then organized a celebration of the discovery of America on October 12 th , 1866.  Italian San Franciscans organized a similar "C-Day" event three years later.

President Benjamin Harrison marked the 400 th Anniversary of the Columbus discovery in 1892.  Colorado was the first state to celebrate Columbus Day in 1905.  In 1937, President Franklin Roosevelt decreed that October 12th would forever be known as "Columbus Day".  Columbus Day has been celebrated ever since but was changed to the second Monday in October.

IN 1492

In fourteen hundred ninety-two
Columbus sailed the ocean blue.

He had three ships and left from Spain ;
He sailed through sunshine, wind and rain.

He sailed by night; he sailed by day;
He used the stars to find his way.

A compass also helped him know
How to find the way to go.

Ninety sailors were on board;
Some men worked while others snored.

Then the workers went to sleep;
And others watched the ocean deep.

Day after day they looked for land;
They dreamed of trees and rocks and sand.

October 12 their dream came true,
You never saw a happier crew!

"Indians!  Indians!"  Columbus cried;
His heart was filled with joyful pride.

But " India " the land was not;
It was the Bahamas , and it was hot.

The Arakawa natives were very nice;
They gave the sailors food and spice.

Columbus sailed on to find some gold
To bring back home, as he'd been told.

He made the trip again and again,
Trading gold to bring to Spain .

The first American?  No, not quite.
But Columbus was brave, and he was bright.