The Centennial Celebration
October 8, 2012
On October 8, 2012 the National Columbus Celebration Association sponsored the one hundredth anniversary celebration of the dedication of the national Columbus Memorial. In addition to the traditional ceremony at the Memorial in front of Union Station, just a few short blocks from the U.S. Capitol building, there was a special noon Mass at the Basilica of the National Shrine of the Immaculate Conception on Sunday, October 7, that was followed by a panel discussion and reception at the Blessed John Paul II Shrine at 1:30 p.m.
A flyer providing additional details of the public program on Columbus Day 2012 can be found here. Our news release is here.
Annual celebrations have been held at the national Columbus Memorial ever since it was dedicated by President William Howard Taft in 1912. Beginning in 1989, the ceremonies were organized by the Washington Columbus Celebration Association, which played a key role in preparing for the Columbus Quincentenary in 1992. In 1999, the official name was changed to the National Columbus Celebration Association.