October 12, 1911 - 1911 was the first year Columbus Day was celebrated as a legal holiday in Nebraska.

The Nebraska Legislature rejected the holiday two years before and faced resistance despite passing later on.

The State Board of Education refused to stop work for the day and school remained open, saying “it failed to discover any reason why it should quit business because Columbus went out on a cruise 408 years ago and sighted land.”

Copyright 2025 KOLN. All rights reserved.

See Full Page