Holiday Hours: Indigenous Peoples Day / Columbus Day

Dióscoro Teófilo Puebla Tolín's 'First landing of Columbus on the Shores of the New World,' at San Salvador, W.I., Oct. 12, 1492, from 1862.

Indigenous Peoples Day and Columbus Day is being observed Monday, Oct. 13. As Columbus Day, it commemorates Christopher Columbus' arrival in the Americas on Oct. 12, 1492. As Indigenous Peoples Day, it commemorates the harm to their cultures and communities that followed Columbus' arrival. 

Columbus' voyage had been celebrated on significant anniversaries but did not become an official holiday until it was recognized by Colorado in 1905. It was declared a federal holiday in 1937.

Not all states recognize Columbus Day. Some local and state governments, including now the city of Boston, have alternative Native American or indigenous peoples' days to reflect that others had "discovered" the continent long before the Nina, Pinta and Santa Maria arrived. Hawaii celebrates Discoverers Day, marking when the Polynesians arrived on the islands. In Vermont, it's optional for public schools to close; most stay open.

In 2021, President Biden recognized Indigenous Peoples' Day, although Columbus Day remains a federal holiday. Massachusetts has not yet recognized it but there are bills at the State House that would change the day from Columbus Day. 

Columbus Day in the United States is also Canadian Thanksgiving. The two holidays have shared the second Monday in October since 1971.

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Mass MoCA Teen Invitational Draws Hundreds of Submissions

By Tammy DanielsiBerkshires Staff
06:26PM / Monday, April 20, 2026

Mount Greylock Regional art teacher Jane-Ellen DeSomma receives the Pepper/Jackson Award from Gabriel Sacco. 

NORTH ADAMS, Mass. — High school students from around the region are being featured this week at Massachusetts Museum of Contemporary Art.

 

More than 400 submissions were made to museum's 14th annual Teen Invitational, giving these young artists an chance to shine in media ranging from video to oils to pottery. 

 

The exhibition is on view through Sunday, April 26.

 

"This is my third year working with the participating schools and producing this exhibition," said Gabriel Sacco, the museum's senior manager of public programs, at Thursday's reception. 

 

"I'm always so impressed by the student work. It's the thing that like keeps me really excited about the work that we do, especially at a time like this when you know we need we need young voices to really share out what the future looks like for us now."

 

Participating schools were the Academy at Charlemont, Berkshire Arts & Technology Public Charter School, Buxton School, Darrow High School, Drury High School, Hoosac Valley High School, McCann Technical School, Miss Hall's School, Mount Greylock Regional School, Pine Cobble School, Pittsfield High School, Greater Commonwealth Virtual School and Wahconah Regional High School. 

 

This year, six awards were presented: three honorable mentions in artistic excellence and three Berkshire Eagle bests in show.