50+ Columbus Day Trivia Questions & Answers

Every year, the second Monday of October is celebrated as Columbus Day to remember Christopher Columbus’ arrival in America. Not just in United States, this holiday is celebrated in various other countries, too. For instance, Latin America, Spain, Italy and Argentina are a few examples. It’s recognized with different names in different places such as Día de la Raza” (“Day of the Race”) in some parts of the Latin America.

In Spain the calendars will read it as “Día de la Hispanidad” or “Fiesta Nacional”. Our list of Columbus Day trivia questions & answers is a delightful activity to give a recap of the reasons and facts pertaining to the National holiday.

Read below the history and interesting trivia facts about Columbus Day and take our electrifying Columbus Day trivia questions & answers quiz to see if you were really paying attention in history class. Score high on the quiz game to compete with your family and friends.

History of Columbus Day

He was an Italian sailor, out on an expedition to Asia sent by Spanish monarchs King Ferdinand and Queen Isabella. His journey began on the third of August in 1492 from Spain in three ships namely, the Nina, the Pinta and the Santa Maria. Christopher Columbus changed history on October, 12th 1492 by accidently discovering the land of Americas on his search to a route to China and East Asia for their riches. He was the first European to set foot in Bahamas, after the Vikings back in the tenth century. This began the ‘age of discoveries’ and lead to colonization.

Columbus Day Trivia Facts

  • The holiday was fixed in 1971 to second Monday of October, every year.
  • Christopher Columbus was not the first European to ‘discover’ America, Vikings had been here before him in the tenth century.
  • Not everyone celebrate this event, some locales have named it Indigenous Peoples’ Day.
  • It has become controversial as Columbus’ actions brought slavery and death and he should not be called a hero.
  • Christopher Columbus was born in 1451 in Genoa, Italy
  • Before being an explorer, Christopher Columbus was a trader
  • Of his three ships, Santa Maria was wrecked.
  • Columbus thought that Asia and Portugal were only 2,400 miles apart, when the actual distance was 10,000 files.
  • It took six years to convince Queen Isabella to fund Christopher Columbus’ expedition as she was doubtful that it will bear any fruit.
  • Christopher Columbus was 14 when he developed an interest in sailing and seafaring.
  • He used to sell maps and charts.

Columbus Day Trivia Questions & Answers

Q. How many trips did Christopher Columbus make to what he believed was Asia?

Show Answer
Three

Q. Which US States have declared it as Indigenous Peoples Day rather than Columbus Day?

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South Dakota, Hawaii and Oregon.

Q. When did Columbus Day become an official Federal Holiday?

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11 October, 1937

Q. Which was the first U.S. state to adopt Columbus Day as a holiday?

Show Answer
Colorado

Q. In weeks, how long did it take Columbus’ crew to spot any land?

Show Answer
Ten weeks

Q. How many people were her in Christopher Columbus’ crew?

Show Answer
Around 90

Q. How many U.S. states celebrate Columbus Day as a paid holiday?

Show Answer
23 states

Q. Which of the Columbus’ ships did not make it back to Spain?

Show Answer
Santa Maria

Q. Where the largest Columbus Day parade is hosted every year?

Show Answer
New York City

Q. How old was Christopher Columbus when he landed on the land of Americas?

Show Answer
41 years old

Q. When Columbus landed, which native group did he come across?

Show Answer
The Tainos

Q. What percentage of spoils from the voyage did Columbus keep?

Show Answer
10 percent

Q. Which of the three ships that he took was Christopher’s favorite?

Show Answer
Nina

Q. What is Christopher Columbus’ real name?

Show Answer
Cristoforo Colombo

Q. How old was Christopher Columbus when he started sailing?

Show Answer
15 years old

Q. Which famous U. S. city is named after Christopher Columbus?

Show Answer
Washington D. C.

Q. What name did Christopher Columbus give to the place he landed first in?

Show Answer
San Salvador.

Q. What is modern day name of San Salvador?

Show Answer
Bahamas

Q. True or False; Christopher Columbus never set foot on North America.

Show Answer
True

Q. In which country’s behalf did Christopher Columbus carry the voyage out?

Show Answer
Spain

Q. According to his journal, what was Christopher Columbus’ objective if the voyage?

Show Answer
Convert people to Catholicism.

Q. According to his first letter to his sponsors (the king and queen of Spain) what did he notice that the native people lacked?

Show Answer
Weapons.

Q. Why did Portugal’s monarchs decline to fund Christopher Columbus’ expedition?

Show Answer
He did not believe in him.

Q. Which of the three ships did Christopher Columbus himself travel in?

Show Answer
Santa Maria

Q. How many voyages did Christopher Columbus made to America?

Show Answer
Four.

Q. True or false: till his death Christopher Columbus thought he had discovered Asia?

Show Answer
True.

Q. In which Italian city was Christopher Columbus born?

Show Answer
Genoa

Q. How did the fist natives that Christopher Columbus encounter react upon seeing the Spanish?

Show Answer
They fled.

Q. When he finally met natives who were ready to talk what gifts did Christopher Columbus offered them?

Show Answer
Cloth.

Q. Christopher Columbus worked for the Duke of Median Celi, to learn about his exploration. How much did he get paid?

Show Answer
3000 maravedis.

Q. On which date was Santa Maria wrecked?

Show Answer
24 December, 1492

Q. According to his letter to the monarchs after the first voyage, what desirable commodity does Columbus mention to have found?

Show Answer
Gold.

Q. Which area did Christopher Columbus travel on his last voyage?

Show Answer
Central America

Q. In which year was Christopher Columbus sent to Spain as a prisoner?

Show Answer
1500

Q. When did Christopher Columbus make his last trip?

Show Answer
1502

Q. On which date did the remaining two ships, Nina and Pinta were separated by a storm on the way back?

Show Answer
14 February, 1493

Q. Why was Christopher Columbus brought to Spain as a prisoner?

Show Answer
For bringing diseases, enslaving and mismanagement of Royal monies.

Q. In which World’s Fair was Columbus’ Voyage celebrated?

Show Answer
The 1893 Chicago World’s Fair: The Columbian Expo

Q. Which Canadian Holiday is on the same day as Columbus Day?

Show Answer
Thanksgiving.

Q. How old was Christopher Columbus when he died?

Show Answer
55 years

Q. What year did Christopher Columbus die in?

Show Answer
In 1506.

Q. Because of the crash of Santa Maria how many people had to be left behind?

Show Answer
40 people

Q. Which island did these men stay at?

Show Answer
Hispaniola.

Q. How many days did it take to spot the first piece of land?

Show Answer
35 days

Q. Which U. S. president made Columbus Day a federal holiday?

Show Answer
Franklin D Roosevelt

Q. True or False: Christopher Columbus believed the earth to be flat?

Show Answer
False

Q. What titles were given to Christopher Columbus upon returning from his first voyage?

Show Answer
Viceroy of the Indies

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