As October continues, Columbus Day and Indigenous Peoples' Day are just around the corner.

With both holidays celebrated on the same day, you may be wondering what the holidays stand for, as well as which one your state celebrates, which has been a major debate throughout the country in recent years.

Here's everything to know about Columbus Day and Indigenous Peoples' Day 2025.

What is Columbus Day?

Columbus Day commemorates Christopher Columbus, an Italian explorer who led a Spanish exploration that landed in the Americas in 1492.

His arrival sparked the European colonization of the Americas, according to USA TODAY's previous reporting . It also initiated the trade of goods, animals and people in what became known as the Columbian Exchange.

The U.S. began celebrating the explorer

See Full Page