Columbus Day is observed in the United States and its territories, including the American Virgin Islands, Guam, American Samoa, Northern Mariana Islands, and Puerto Rico, every second Monday of October. The holiday commemorates the anniversary of Christopher Columbus's arrival in the Americas in 1492, specifically marking his landing in the Bahamas on October 12. The first documented celebration occurred 300 years after this event, with Colorado being the first state to officially recognize it as a holiday in 1907. Columbus Day was designated a federal holiday in 1968, with observance varying by state; some regions hold large parades, notably in San Francisco and New York City. In recent years, celebrations have declined, and some states have adopted Indigenous Peoples’ Day instead, reflecting a shift in focus away from Columbus due to his association with colonization.