BISMARCK, ND (KXNET) - Columbus Day will be observed Monday as a federal holiday, but no formal events are planned in Bismarck or Minot. While post offices and some banks will close, most schools, businesses and state offices will remain open.

The holiday, which commemorates Christopher Columbus’s 1492 voyage, has seen declining public observance in North Dakota in recent years. Neither city is hosting official celebrations, and public attention has largely shifted toward Indigenous Peoples Day, which is recognized statewide.

The absence of Columbus Day events reflects a broader national trend, as communities reconsider how history is remembered and whose stories are elevated.

President Donald Trump issued a proclamation declaring Monday as Columbus Day, calling the 15th-century explore

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