What do Americans think of Christopher Columbus? New poll finds opinions are divided

Americans are largely divided in their views on Christopher Columbus and whether he should be celebrated, new polling reveals.

In the latest YouGov poll, just over half of respondents, 52%, said they have a very or somewhat favorable view of Columbus, while 32% said they had a very or somewhat unfavorable opinion. A smaller share, 16%, said they didn’t know.

There were significant differences in responses among demographic groups, according to the poll, which was conducted between Oct. 4 and 6. It sampled 1,137 U.S. adults and has a margin of error of 3.8 percentage points.

Sixty-eight percent of adults 65 and older said they had a favorable view of the Italian explorer, while 43% of 18- to 29-year-olds said the same.

Similarly, 68% of Republicans expressed that they had a favorable opinion of him, while 41% of Democrats said the same.

White respondents were also more likely than Black and Hispanic respondents to have a favorable view of Columbus — 57% versus 42% and 45%, respectively.

Further, 54% of Italian-American respondents said they had a favorable view of Columbus — who is believed by many to have been born in Genoa — while 51% of non-Italian-Americans said the same.

Additional findings

— 35% of respondents said Columbus was a completely or mostly good person, while 18% said he was completely or mostly bad. Thirty-two percent said he was equally good and bad.

— Similarly, 35% said they consider Columbus to be “more of a hero,” while 20% said they think he is “more of a villain.” Thirty-six percent said he is neither.

— The vast majority, 69%, said he is very important or important to the history of the United States.

— 38% said the information they were taught about Columbus in school was completely or mostly true, while 22% said it was completely or mostly false. Twenty-nine percent said it was “about equally true and false.”

— Half of respondents said statues of Columbus should be displayed in America, while 22% said they should not be.

— 43% said they strongly or somewhat approve of celebrating Columbus Day, while 23% said they strongly or somewhat disapprove. Twenty-eight percent said they neither disapprove or approve.

— When asked whether the federal government should set aside a day to recognize Columbus, 49% said yes — expressing approval of either a federal holiday or national observance day.

— Respondents were also asked about Indigenous Peoples’ Day, which falls on the same day as Columbus Day, and is recognized by some states and cities. Fifty-four percent said they strongly or somewhat approve of the holiday, while just 6% said they strongly or somewhat disapprove, and 31% said they neither disapprove nor approve.

— 63% said they believe the federal government should have a day to recognize the indigenous inhabitants of the U.S — either a federal holiday or national observance day. Fifteen percent said they believed the federal government should not have a day to recognize indigenous people.

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