Columbus Day Origins in New Orleans: Re-evaluating the Current Controversy

The Museum of Old Newbury preserves and interprets the history of “Old Newbury” including Newbury, Newburyport, and West Newbury from pre-settlement to the present. Founded in 1877, the Museum carries out its mission through the preservation and administration of the Cushing House, the Perkins Engraving Plant, and other historic structures on its High Street campus and furthers its purpose through lectures, exhibitions, educational programs, publications, and research.

Museum of Old Newbury

Presented by Olivia Crisafi,  '22, The Governor's Academy, this program looks back at the origins of the holiday from 130 years ago.

For 50 years, Columbus Day has been a national holiday, more or less celebrating Christopher Columbus&#x27;s &quot;discovery&quot; of the New World. Since then, more and more Americans are choosing, instead, to observe the holiday as Indigenous People&#x27;s Day, acknowledging the native peoples whom Europeans displaced and critiquing their treatment by colonizers and by citizens and governments in the United States. Those clashing historical narratives speak of deep division among Americans today. Some resolution to the controversy over Columbus Day, at least, might be found in the origin of that holiday long before 1971, but nearly 130 years ago in New Orleans. Olivia Crisafi, &#x27;22, is a senior at The Governor&#x27;s Academy from Newbury, MA. Drawn to controversial issues, she is passionate about public policy and engineering and spends her free time running, building robots and fundraising for her chosen social causes. Her investigation of Columbus Day, for her junior-year AP US History class, sparked her interest in historical research, which she pursued as an intern at the MOON this past summer, and plans to continue in college. Register here. (A Zoom link will be sent closer to the presentation. Donations encouraged, but not required.)

Our {communityGuidelinesLink} describe the sort of content we prohibit on Eventbrite. If you suspect an event may be in violation, you can report it to us so we can investigate.

To report other categories of prohibited or illegal content, submit {link}

Columbus Day Origins in New Orleans: Re-evaluating the Current Controversy

More events from Museum of Old Newbury

Discover more events from Museum of Old Newbury, from Community to other experiences you might love.

Still looking for the right event?

Explore all online events to browse and filter by date, category, and more.

Columbus Day Origins in New Orleans: Re-evaluating the Current Controversy

More events from Museum of Old Newbury

Discover more events from Museum of Old Newbury, from Community to other experiences you might love.

More Community events

Browse more Community events with different dates, prices, and formats to find your next great experience.

Still looking for the right event?

Explore all online events to browse and filter by date, category, and more.