Columbus Day, a federal holiday in the United States, is observed on the second Monday of October to mark the landing of Christopher Columbus in the Americas on October 12, 1492. For centuries, this event was celebrated as the beginning of European civilization in the Americas. However, as historical narratives have shifted, Columbus' legacy has become a topic of contention due to the violent colonization that followed his expeditions.
The Discovery of the Americas and its Aftermath
During the late 15th century, the rise of the Ottoman Empire severed long-established trade routes between Europe and Asia, forcing European powers to seek alternative paths to the East. In this period of exploration, Bartolomeu Dias became the first European to sail around the Cape of Good Hope in 1488, opening the way for Vasco da Gama to reach India via the same route a decade later.
Christopher Columbus, a Genoese sailor, also sought to reach Asia but suggested a westward route across the Atlantic. Despite delays in securing sponsorship due to the successful Cape of Good Hope route, Columbus finally gained backing from the Spanish Crown in 1492. He set sail from Andalusia on August 3, 1492, with three ships: Santa María, Pinta, and Niña. After stopping at the Canary Islands, the fleet crossed the Atlantic and reached what is now known as the Bahamas on October 12. Over the following months, Columbus explored various islands, including Cuba and Hispaniola, and engaged with the native populations, whom he mistakenly called "Los Indios," believing he had reached Asia.
Columbus returned to Spain in March 1493 to a hero’s welcome and went on to make three more voyages to the Americas. These expeditions laid the groundwork for Spanish colonization, though Columbus never fully realized that he had "discovered" a " New World," continuing to believe he had reached the Orient.
The Myth of Columbus in American History
Though Columbus played a significant role in early European exploration, he was a marginal figure in history until the late 18th century. His prominence in American historical narratives grew during the American Revolution when the young United States sought figures unrelated to British colonialism. Columbus, cast as an independent and brave explorer, became a national symbol. William Robertson's 1777 biography played a key role in elevating Columbus as a noble figure with the intent of "bringing civilization to savages."
The popularity of Columbus surged during this period, with towns, streets, and institutions named after him. By the final decades of the 18th century, "Columbusmania" swept through the United States, with state capitals like Columbia in South Carolina and Ohio bearing his name. King’s College in New York was renamed Columbia University in 1784, and the national capital was named the District of Columbia in 1791.
Washington Irving’s 1828 book, The Life and Voyages of Christopher Columbus, further cemented Columbus' status in American history. However, the book, according to The Nation, was "stunningly inaccurate" and painted Columbus as "valiant, intrepid, and eager to shed Old Europe"—traits that aligned with America's vision of itself. The legacy of this narrative shaped how generations of American children learned about Columbus, portraying him as a hero.
For the 400th anniversary of Columbus' arrival in 1892, President Benjamin Harrison declared a national celebration on October 12, part of an effort to honor Italian-American heritage. Columbus was embraced by Italian immigrants as a symbol of their contributions to American society. In 1971, Columbus Day was made a federal holiday, observed annually on the second Monday of October.
A Legacy of Violence and Colonization
While Columbus was long celebrated for his explorations, his treatment of the indigenous populations has increasingly overshadowed his legacy. His expeditions led to the forced conversion of native people to Christianity, enslavement, and violence. His journal entry from October 12, 1492, reveals his attitude towards the native population: "They should be good and intelligent servants, for I see that they say very quickly everything that is said to them; and I believe they would become Christians very easily, for it seemed to me that they had no religion. Our Lord pleasing, at the time of my departure I will take six of them from here to Your Highnesses in order that they may learn to speak." (According to a translation by Oliver Dunn and James E. Kelley Jr. in 1989).
Columbus' subsequent voyages led to the enslavement of thousands of indigenous people, many of whom were killed, raped, or forced to work in gold mines and plantations. The Taino people, the largest indigenous group in the Caribbean, were nearly wiped out, with only a few hundred survivors remaining just 60 years after Columbus' arrival. His governance was so harsh that even the Spanish Crown removed him from his position as governor in 1500.
The introduction of Old World diseases like smallpox, to which the native populations had no immunity, further devastated indigenous communities. Historian Noble David Cook wrote in Born to Die: Disease and New World Conquest 1492-1650, "There were too few Spaniards to have killed the millions who were reported to have died in the first century after Old and New World contact," highlighting the catastrophic impact of disease.
Modern-Day Rejection of Columbus Day
In recent years, opposition to Columbus Day has grown, with many opting to celebrate Indigenous Peoples’ Day instead. The day is seen as an opportunity to honor the cultures and histories of Native Americans, whose lives were irrevocably changed by European colonization. The shift, however, remains divisive along political and racial lines in the United States.
Forensic Science Confirms Columbus' Remains
Adding to the complex narrative of Columbus is recent forensic research that has finally confirmed the location of his remains. A team led by forensic scientist Miguel Lorente used DNA analysis to identify bones found in Seville’s Cathedral as belonging to Columbus. "Today it has been possible to verify it with new technologies, so that the previous partial theory that the remains of Seville belong to Christopher Columbus has been definitively confirmed," Lorente said. The researchers compared DNA from Columbus' brother, Diego, and his son, Hernando, who were also buried in the Seville Cathedral, and found a match.
The findings will be detailed in the program Columbus DNA: The Genuine Origin, airing on Spain’s national broadcaster, TVE. The show will also address the long-debated question of Columbus' nationality, shedding new light on one of history’s most iconic figures.
The Discovery of the Americas and its Aftermath
During the late 15th century, the rise of the Ottoman Empire severed long-established trade routes between Europe and Asia, forcing European powers to seek alternative paths to the East. In this period of exploration, Bartolomeu Dias became the first European to sail around the Cape of Good Hope in 1488, opening the way for Vasco da Gama to reach India via the same route a decade later.
Christopher Columbus, a Genoese sailor, also sought to reach Asia but suggested a westward route across the Atlantic. Despite delays in securing sponsorship due to the successful Cape of Good Hope route, Columbus finally gained backing from the Spanish Crown in 1492. He set sail from Andalusia on August 3, 1492, with three ships: Santa María, Pinta, and Niña. After stopping at the Canary Islands, the fleet crossed the Atlantic and reached what is now known as the Bahamas on October 12. Over the following months, Columbus explored various islands, including Cuba and Hispaniola, and engaged with the native populations, whom he mistakenly called "Los Indios," believing he had reached Asia.
Columbus returned to Spain in March 1493 to a hero’s welcome and went on to make three more voyages to the Americas. These expeditions laid the groundwork for Spanish colonization, though Columbus never fully realized that he had "discovered" a " New World," continuing to believe he had reached the Orient.
The Myth of Columbus in American History
Though Columbus played a significant role in early European exploration, he was a marginal figure in history until the late 18th century. His prominence in American historical narratives grew during the American Revolution when the young United States sought figures unrelated to British colonialism. Columbus, cast as an independent and brave explorer, became a national symbol. William Robertson's 1777 biography played a key role in elevating Columbus as a noble figure with the intent of "bringing civilization to savages."
The popularity of Columbus surged during this period, with towns, streets, and institutions named after him. By the final decades of the 18th century, "Columbusmania" swept through the United States, with state capitals like Columbia in South Carolina and Ohio bearing his name. King’s College in New York was renamed Columbia University in 1784, and the national capital was named the District of Columbia in 1791.
Washington Irving’s 1828 book, The Life and Voyages of Christopher Columbus, further cemented Columbus' status in American history. However, the book, according to The Nation, was "stunningly inaccurate" and painted Columbus as "valiant, intrepid, and eager to shed Old Europe"—traits that aligned with America's vision of itself. The legacy of this narrative shaped how generations of American children learned about Columbus, portraying him as a hero.
For the 400th anniversary of Columbus' arrival in 1892, President Benjamin Harrison declared a national celebration on October 12, part of an effort to honor Italian-American heritage. Columbus was embraced by Italian immigrants as a symbol of their contributions to American society. In 1971, Columbus Day was made a federal holiday, observed annually on the second Monday of October.
A Legacy of Violence and Colonization
While Columbus was long celebrated for his explorations, his treatment of the indigenous populations has increasingly overshadowed his legacy. His expeditions led to the forced conversion of native people to Christianity, enslavement, and violence. His journal entry from October 12, 1492, reveals his attitude towards the native population: "They should be good and intelligent servants, for I see that they say very quickly everything that is said to them; and I believe they would become Christians very easily, for it seemed to me that they had no religion. Our Lord pleasing, at the time of my departure I will take six of them from here to Your Highnesses in order that they may learn to speak." (According to a translation by Oliver Dunn and James E. Kelley Jr. in 1989).
Columbus' subsequent voyages led to the enslavement of thousands of indigenous people, many of whom were killed, raped, or forced to work in gold mines and plantations. The Taino people, the largest indigenous group in the Caribbean, were nearly wiped out, with only a few hundred survivors remaining just 60 years after Columbus' arrival. His governance was so harsh that even the Spanish Crown removed him from his position as governor in 1500.
The introduction of Old World diseases like smallpox, to which the native populations had no immunity, further devastated indigenous communities. Historian Noble David Cook wrote in Born to Die: Disease and New World Conquest 1492-1650, "There were too few Spaniards to have killed the millions who were reported to have died in the first century after Old and New World contact," highlighting the catastrophic impact of disease.
Modern-Day Rejection of Columbus Day
In recent years, opposition to Columbus Day has grown, with many opting to celebrate Indigenous Peoples’ Day instead. The day is seen as an opportunity to honor the cultures and histories of Native Americans, whose lives were irrevocably changed by European colonization. The shift, however, remains divisive along political and racial lines in the United States.
Forensic Science Confirms Columbus' Remains
Adding to the complex narrative of Columbus is recent forensic research that has finally confirmed the location of his remains. A team led by forensic scientist Miguel Lorente used DNA analysis to identify bones found in Seville’s Cathedral as belonging to Columbus. "Today it has been possible to verify it with new technologies, so that the previous partial theory that the remains of Seville belong to Christopher Columbus has been definitively confirmed," Lorente said. The researchers compared DNA from Columbus' brother, Diego, and his son, Hernando, who were also buried in the Seville Cathedral, and found a match.
The findings will be detailed in the program Columbus DNA: The Genuine Origin, airing on Spain’s national broadcaster, TVE. The show will also address the long-debated question of Columbus' nationality, shedding new light on one of history’s most iconic figures.
