Happy Columbus Day!

Columbus Day is a U.S. holiday that commemorates the historic voyage and landing of Christopher Columbus in the New World on October 12, 1492. It's a federal holiday that is celebrated on the second Monday in October. Before it became a legal federal holiday in 1971, many states celebrated Columbus Day on October 12. The anniversary of his landing in the New World was first formally celebrated in 1792, On October 12, 1492, Christopher Columbus arrived on a small island in the Bahamas, Without accurate world maps at the time he beliveved that he had reached his destination of Asia.

Although he was not the first European to discover the Americas his journey sparked enthusiasm for European exploration of the hemisphere. In Christopher Columbus’s day, scholars knew that the world was round; the fact dated from the ancient Greeks. People assumed that a ship traveling west from Europe would sail clear through to Asia. However, many believed that such a westward journey was impossible. Columbus, an Italian, was convinced otherwise and persuaded King Ferdinand and Queen Isabella of Spain to sponsor his exploration and search for riches. History is multifaceted in many ways. Columbus Day also speaks to the thirst for adventure, exploration, and possibilities that embodies the spirit of our great country. Columbus represents many early explorers and dreamers who reached for opportunity and not only dreamed, but acted.

On this holiday take a moment to relax in your backyard or park while you celebrate Columbus Day.