Columbus Day

Columbus Day is a holiday set aside to honor Christopher Columbus. The day is considered controversial, due to historical recognition that Columbus was a brutal autocrat who traded slaves. Many people in the United States don't observe Columbus Day, although it is most typically revered by Italian-Americans. Although Columbus is attributed as the first non-Native American to discover North America, it is considered among experts that Vikings and perhaps the Chinese had made North American contact first.

During four separate trips that started with the one in 1492, Columbus landed on various Caribbean islands that are now the Bahamas as well as the island later called Hispaniola. He also explored the Central and South American coasts.