It’s one of those questions that seems like it should have a simple, one-sentence answer. You’d think there’d be a dusty ledger somewhere with a single date circled in red ink. But history is rarely that clean. If you're asking when did Columbus Day start, you’re actually pulling on a thread that unravels five centuries of immigration, political maneuvering, and a very specific kind of Italian-American pride that basically forced the government’s hand.
Most people assume it started in 1492. It didn't.
Some think it was a gift from the Founding Fathers. Wrong again.
The real story involves a massive lynching in New Orleans, a World's Fair in Chicago, and a President who was trying to keep the peace during a diplomatic nightmare. It’s a wild ride.
The First "Unofficial" Birthday Bash
Technically, the very first recorded celebration of Columbus’s arrival happened in 1792. That was the 300th anniversary. It wasn't a federal thing. Not even close. It was mostly organized by the Society of St. Tammany, also known as the Columbian Order, in New York City. They were basically a political organization that wanted to distance the new United States from its British roots. By celebrating a Genoese explorer who sailed for Spain, they were saying, "Hey, we have our own history that isn't just an extension of London."
It was a one-off. For the next hundred years, Columbus Day wasn't really a thing for the average American. People were more worried about the Civil War, westward expansion, and surviving the Industrial Revolution than they were about a mariner from the 15th century.
The 1891 Tragedy That Changed Everything
Here is where the story gets dark and weirdly political. If you want to know when did Columbus Day start as a national event, you have to look at 1891.
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In New Orleans, the police chief was murdered. The blame was pinned on Italian immigrants. In the aftermath, a mob stormed the jail and lynched 11 Italian-Americans. It was one of the largest mass lynchings in U.S. history.
Italy was furious. They cut off diplomatic ties with the United States. There was even talk of war. President Benjamin Harrison was in a tight spot. He needed a way to appease the Italian government and show some respect to the growing Italian-American population in the States.
So, in 1892, for the 400th anniversary, Harrison issued a one-time proclamation. He called for a nationwide celebration of "Discovery Day." He didn't make it a permanent holiday, but he set the stage. He basically used Christopher Columbus as a diplomatic olive branch.
The Knights of Columbus and the Push for Permanence
While the President was playing diplomat, a Catholic fraternal organization called the Knights of Columbus was doing the heavy lifting on the ground. Italian immigrants in the late 19th and early 20th centuries weren't exactly welcomed with open arms. They faced massive discrimination. They were seen as "other."
The Knights of Columbus realized that if they could turn Columbus—a Catholic hero—into an American icon, it would help legitimize their place in society. They lobbied hard. They pushed state legislatures.
Colorado was actually the first state to make it an official holiday in 1907. Other states followed suit, but it still wasn't a federal holiday. That didn't happen until 1934. President Franklin D. Roosevelt finally signed the legislation, largely because he needed the support of Italian-American voters during the Great Depression.
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Politics. It always comes back to politics.
Why the Date Keeps Moving
You might remember that Columbus Day used to be October 12th. That was the actual date he hit land in the Bahamas. But if you look at your calendar now, it’s always a Monday. Why?
The Uniform Monday Holiday Act of 1968.
Congress decided that federal employees needed more three-day weekends. Honestly, can you blame them? They moved Washington’s Birthday, Memorial Day, Labor Day, and Columbus Day to designated Mondays. This took effect in 1971. So, if you’re asking when the modern version of the holiday started—the one where banks are closed and you get a long weekend—the answer is 1971.
The Shift to Indigenous Peoples' Day
It’s impossible to talk about when this holiday started without talking about when it started to change. By the 1970s and 80s, the narrative began to shift. Historians and activists started pointing out that "discovering" a place where millions of people already lived is a bit of a stretch.
The first major pushback happened in 1977 at a United Nations conference on discrimination against indigenous populations. But the real "start" of the modern movement was in 1992—the 500th anniversary. While some were planning huge parades, Berkeley, California, became the first city to officially replace Columbus Day with Indigenous Peoples' Day.
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Since then, it’s been a domino effect.
- South Dakota rebranded it as Native American Day way back in 1990.
- Hawaii calls it Discoverers' Day (honoring Polynesian navigators).
- Over 100 cities and several states have ditched the Columbus name entirely.
In 2021, President Joe Biden issued the first-ever presidential proclamation for Indigenous Peoples' Day, though Columbus Day remains the official federal designation on the books.
The Nuance Nobody Talks About
We tend to look at these things as a binary: you either love the holiday or you hate it. But for many Italian-American families, it’s complicated. For a long time, Columbus Day wasn't about the man; it was about the fact that they finally had a seat at the table. It was a day to celebrate their heritage in a country that once lynched them in the streets of New Orleans.
Removing the holiday feels to some like removing that recognition. On the flip side, for Native Americans, the holiday is a reminder of centuries of genocide and colonization.
So, when did Columbus Day start?
It started as a 1792 party for New York elites.
It started as a 1892 apology for a massacre.
It started as a 1934 political favor for FDR.
And it started to transform into something else entirely in 1992.
Practical Steps for Navigating the Holiday
If you’re a business owner, a teacher, or just someone trying to be respectful of the current landscape, here is how you handle the mid-October holiday season in 2026:
- Check Local Statutes: Since many states and cities have different names for the second Monday in October, make sure your company calendar reflects the local legal designation.
- Diversify the Narrative: If you’re in an educational or corporate setting, use the day to highlight both Italian-American contributions and Indigenous history. It doesn't have to be an "either/or" situation.
- Respect Federal Closures: Regardless of what it’s called in your town, remember that it is still a federal holiday. The post office is closed. The banks are closed. The markets are usually quiet. Plan your deadlines accordingly.
- Support Indigenous Creators: If you choose to celebrate Indigenous Peoples' Day, do more than post a hashtag. Look into the Native American Rights Fund or support local indigenous-owned businesses.
The history of this day is a reflection of America itself: messy, contradictory, and constantly evolving. It began as a way to unite a fractured immigrant population and is now a flashpoint for how we choose to remember our origins. Whether you see it as a day of Italian pride or a day of mourning, understanding the timeline helps strip away the myths and reveal the very human motivations behind the holiday.
To truly understand the impact of the holiday, look into the specific history of your own state's proclamation. Many states, like Oklahoma and Alaska, have unique legislative histories that provide even more context than the federal story. Checking your state’s historical society archives is the best way to see how the local narrative has shifted over the last century.