Show H i HISTORY i iTHE THE DISCOVERY OF AMERICA i Oct 12 The first celebration of the discovery of America by byCo Co lumbus was held in New York on October 12 1792 three hundred years after the landing of Columbus Columbus Colum Colum- bus on the shores of this contin contin- ent The celebration was sponsored sponsored sponsor sponsor- sponsor sponsor- ed by the society of St S1 Tammany or Columbus Order The celebration celebration celebration tion consisted of a dinner and the usual speeches A was erected in the headquarters of the society as a part of the ceremonies A number of monuments have since been erected in this country by various groups The idea of celebrating celebrating cel cel- the discovery of this country gained recognition very slowly and the next celebration of consequence occurred in 18 1892 2 one hundred years later This cycle cycle- bration a was marked by the Worlds World's Fair or Worl Worlds World's ls l's Columbian Exposition in Chicago The celebration supported support support- ed by a Federal appropriation was planned for 1892 but for the the reason that the buildings could not be completed in time did not open until the next year Due to the persistent efforts of the day was finally nally designated as a holiday in New York in 1909 The signing of the law was made the occasion for a city wide celebration in New York The day is now observed as a legal holiday in some thirty four I states |