Initially established to commemorate the arrival of Christopher Columbus in the Americas on October 12, 1492, Columbus Day has evolved into a celebration of Italian-American heritage. The first recorded Columbus Day event occurred in 1792, when New York’s Columbian Order, also known as Tammany Hall, organized a ceremony marking the 300th anniversary of Columbus’ landing. Over time, Italian and Catholic communities across the United States began holding religious services and parades to honor Columbus’ birthplace and faith.
In 1892, President Benjamin Harrison issued a proclamation to mark the 400th anniversary of Columbus’ arrival. Colorado became the first state to make it an official holiday in 1905. Congress designated October 12 as Columbus Day in 1937 and later set its observance for the second Monday in October beginning in 1971. Illinois established its own observance of the holiday in 1963.
Today, many Americans continue to observe Columbus Day not only as recognition of Columbus’ role in history but also as a tribute to Italian-American culture. According to U.S. Census data, more than 18 million Americans identify as having Italian ancestry, making them one of the largest ancestry groups in the country.
Schmidt, a Republican, was elected to the Illinois State House in 2023 to represent the state’s 114th House District, replacing previous state representative LaToya Greenwood.
