What they’re not telling you about 1492

The beginning of recorded American history dates back to 1492 when Columbus sailed the ocean blue.

This has been part of our education in this country for centuries.

We celebrated this known aspect of history.

We have this part documented.

The other portion of American history we have uncovered as we've lived on the continent, but our known historical beginning goes back to 1492 when Columbus sailed the ocean blue.

That's a fun mnemonic that we tell children when we're talking about Columbus Day, when we're talking about Christopher Columbus.

Let's talk about the history of this day, though, and the history of why we celebrate it.

It was October 12, 1792, when the Society of St. Tammany, also known as the Columbian Order, celebrated the 300th anniversary of the historic landing of the Nina Pinta in Santa Maria.

It was in 1792. when we decided that, hey, you know what, we should celebrate this.

We should celebrate the landing of Christopher Columbus.

And what he thought was, well, it was a new world.

What he thought was a passage to the West Indies.

Unbeknownst to him, he had discovered a completely different continent.

And we celebrated that.

in 1792, in the 300th anniversary.

But it wasn't until the 400th anniversary, 100 years later, when Americans were inspired to make it an official day, to officially honor Christopher Columbus.

It was 1892, President Benjamin Harris, he issued a proclamation honoring Columbus as a pioneer of progress and enlightenment.

And he said, I'm recommending to the people, the observance and all their localities, the 400th anniversary of the discovery of America.

And it was the following summer at

the

Chicago World's Fair.

It was also called the World's Columbian Exhibit, but the Chicago World's Fair.

And it was designed to commemorate Columbus's discovery of the new world.

It was the 400th anniversary.

The Knights of Columbus soon lobbied state legislatures to declare October 12th a legal holiday in commemoration of Christopher Columbus discovering the new world.

The beginning of recorded American history dates back to 1492 when Columbus sailed the ocean blue.

This has been part of our education in this country for centuries.

We celebrated this known aspect of history.

We have this part documented.

The other portion of American history we have uncovered as we've lived on the continent, but our known historical beginning goes back to 1492 when Columbus sailed the ocean blue.

That's a fun mnemonic that we tell children when we're talking about Columbus Day, when we're talking about Christopher Columbus.

Let's talk about the history of this day, though, and the history of why we celebrate it.

It was October 12, 1792, when the Society of St. Tammany, also known as the Columbian Order, celebrated the 300th anniversary of the historic landing of the Nina Pinta in Santa Maria.

It was in 1792. when we decided that, hey, you know what, we should celebrate this.

We should celebrate the landing of Christopher Columbus.

And what he thought was, well, it was a new world.

What he thought was a passage to the West Indies.

Unbeknownst to him, he had discovered a completely different continent.

And we celebrated that.

in 1792, in the 300th anniversary.

But it wasn't until the 400th anniversary, 100 years later, when Americans were inspired to make it an official day, to officially honor Christopher Columbus.

It was 1892, President Benjamin Harris, he issued a proclamation honoring Columbus as a pioneer of progress and enlightenment.

And he said, I'm recommending to the people, the observance and all their localities, the 400th anniversary of the discovery of America.

And it was the following summer at

the

Chicago World's Fair.

It was also called the World's Columbian Exhibit, but the Chicago World's Fair.

And it was designed to commemorate Columbus's discovery of the new world.

It was the 400th anniversary.

The Knights of Columbus soon lobbied state legislatures to declare October 12th a legal holiday in commemoration of Christopher Columbus discovering the new world.