Show HISTORY COLUMBUS DAY October DAY October 12 i The first celebration of the discovery discovery discovery ery of America by Christopher Col Columbus Columbus Columbus umbus was held in New York City on October 12 1792 three hundred years ears after the landing of Colum Colum- Columns Columbus Columbus bus ns on the American continent This celebration was arranged by the he Society of St. St Tammany or Col Columbian Columbian Columbian Order The celebration consisted of a dinner at which speeches were made appropriate to o the occasion The first perman perman- permanent ent monument to be erected fn in inthis in inthis this his country in honor of its dis discoverers discoverers coverers was financed by lions of Italian citizens in Fair Fair- Fairmont Fairmont mont Park Philadelphia in 1876 at the time of the Ex Ex- Exhibition Ex- Ex held in honor of the Dec Dec- Declaration Declaration Declaration of Independence e. e On the occasion of the four hundredth anniversary of the discovery of America by Columbus a monument monument monument ment to Columbus was erected in Central Park in New Kew York The Columbian Exposition in Chicago was staged in honor of the discovery discovery discovery ery of America by Columbus The Tho original plan was was was-to to open the Ex Ex Ex- Exposition Exposition Exposition position in 1892 but owing to the inability to get the Exposition in readiness it was not held until a year ear later in 1893 The Knights of Columbus were responsible for having haying the day declared a legal holiday in New York The day is isnow isnow isnow now a elgal holiday in thirty four four states |