You may remember this poem from your childhood ...
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.
Here’s a little HISTORY ...
The first recorded ceremony commemorating Columbus in America occurred in 1792, 300 years after his famous first voyage in 1492.
To honor Columbus, a ceremony was held in New York, and a monument was dedicated to him in Baltimore, Maryland.
In 1892, a statue of Columbus was raised at Columbus Avenue in New York City.
Further, at the Columbian Exposition held in Chicago that year, replicas of Columbus' three ships were displayed.
CREATION OF COLUMBUS DAY HOLIDAY
Italian-Americans were key in the creation of Columbus Day. Beginning on October 12, 1866, New York City's Italian population organized a celebration of the 'discovery' of America. 
As the tradition grew, the yearly celebration spread to other cities and became known as Columbus Day in San Francisco in 1869.
Colorado became the first state to observe an official Columbus Day in 1905. Over time other states followed until 1937 when President Franklin Roosevelt proclaimed every October 12 as Columbus Day.
In 1971, the federal holiday was officially changed by Congress to be observed on the second Monday in October.
Since Columbus Day is a designated federal holiday, the post office, government offices, and many banks are closed.
To further celebrate this special occasion in our History, many cities across America hold parades on this day.
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