The second Monday in October is recognized across the United States as Columbus Day - a federal holiday dating back nearly a century - but in many cities and states, it’s also marked as Indigenous Peoples Day. The two observances fall on the same date each year, reflecting an ongoing national conversation about how America remembers its past.
Columbus Day became a federal holiday in 1937, honoring the 1492 voyage of Italian explorer Christopher Columbus. Supporters have long viewed it as a celebration of Italian-American heritage and exploration. But in recent decades, critics have pointed to the impact of European colonization on Native Americans, leading to growing support for replacing or renaming the day.
Indigenous Peoples Day was first officially recognized in 1992 by Berkeley, California, as a counter-observance honoring the history, culture, and resilience of Native peoples. Since then, dozens of states, including Oklahoma and Minnesota, have formally adopted it, while others - like Texas - still officially list the day as Columbus Day.
Federal offices and most banks remain closed for the holiday, while observances vary widely across the country. The dual recognition continues to reflect a shifting national perspective on how the United States confronts its history — and whose stories it chooses to elevate.
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