Beyond The Statue: How Gavin Newsom Is Redrawing The Historical Map Of Christopher Columbus In California

As of December 16, 2025, the historical narrative of Christopher Columbus in California has been systematically dismantled and rewritten, not just through symbolic acts, but via deep institutional changes championed by Governor Gavin Newsom.

The journey from celebrating Columbus Day to officially recognizing Indigenous Peoples' Day, coupled with the physical removal of statues, represents a fundamental shift in how the state addresses its colonial past. The less visible, but arguably more impactful, change lies in the revision of educational materials—the literal and metaphorical "maps" that teach California's next generation about its origins.

The Definitive Shift: From Columbus Day to Indigenous Peoples' Day

Governor Gavin Newsom’s administration has taken decisive, high-profile steps to officially sever California's connection to the celebratory aspects of Christopher Columbus’s legacy. These actions were a direct response to decades of advocacy from Indigenous communities and a broader national reckoning with colonial history.

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The first major step was the official proclamation of Indigenous Peoples' Day. In 2019, Newsom declared the second Monday in October as "Indigenous Peoples' Day" across the State of California, effectively axing the state's recognition of Columbus Day in favor of honoring the lives, culture, and history of native peoples. This move aligned California with a growing number of states and municipalities undertaking similar decolonization efforts.

Beyond the holiday, the physical landscape of the state Capitol was also altered. In 2020, following a wave of protests against monuments to controversial historical figures, state officials removed a statue of Christopher Columbus and Queen Isabella from the California Capitol rotunda. This was a powerful symbolic gesture that signaled the state government's commitment to historical revisionism and acknowledging the violence of the colonial era.

This removal was part of a broader trend, which included the subsequent signing of a law by Newsom to replace a toppled statue of Spanish missionary Junípero Serra with a monument honoring Native Americans. These actions solidified Newsom's stance that the state's public institutions must reflect a more accurate and inclusive historical understanding.

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Redrawing the Map: Curriculum, Textbooks, and the New Narrative

The term "christopher columbus gavin newsom maps" points to the most critical and enduring aspect of this historical overhaul: the educational curriculum. While statues and holidays are visible, the maps and narratives taught in schools are where the long-term impact of Newsom's policies will be felt.

The California History-Social Science Framework, which guides public school instruction, has been increasingly scrutinized for how it addresses the "Columbus Story." Historically, students were taught about Columbus's journey, his three ships, and the concept of "discovery." Current standards still mention the entrepreneurial characteristics of early explorers like Columbus, and the use of maps to locate land claims. However, the context has drastically changed.

The new focus is on a more critical, multi-perspective approach. The California Native American Studies Model Curriculum explicitly calls for educators to "educate and re-educate against the stories of Columbus". This framework encourages teachers to present the full, brutal context of the Columbian Exchange, including the impact of genocide, enslavement, and disease on Indigenous populations.

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The "maps" in this context are not just physical classroom aids, but the mental maps of history students carry. The revision requires:

• Shifting the focus from European "discovery" to the existing, thriving civilizations of California tribes and other Indigenous peoples.
• Using maps to highlight Indigenous lands and languages, such as a new map of Los Angeles County documenting where Indigenous languages are spoken.
• Teaching about the impact of the mission system, the Gold Rush, and Indian boarding schools, which were long erased or glossed over in older textbooks.

This process ensures that while students may still encounter the name Christopher Columbus, they do so through a lens of critical analysis, not celebration. The historical map is being redrawn to include the voices, suffering, and resilience of the people who were there first.

The Entities of Change: Key Players and Historical Revisionism

The policy shifts driven by Governor Newsom are part of a massive cultural and educational undertaking involving numerous entities and concepts. This movement is often framed as a larger debate over historical revisionism—the effort to challenge traditional interpretations of history and integrate marginalized perspectives.

Key entities and concepts involved in this California narrative shift include:

• Indigenous Peoples' Day: The official replacement holiday and a central LSI keyword for the entire movement.
• California Tribes: The 109 federally recognized tribes in California whose unique culture and history are now required to be taught in schools.
• Decolonization Efforts: The broader philosophical and political movement to reverse the cultural, psychological, and economic impacts of colonialism.
• Social Studies Framework: The official state document governing what and how history is taught in California public schools.
• Native American Studies Model Curriculum: The specific educational guide that mandates a critical view of colonial figures like Columbus.
• Junípero Serra: Another controversial colonial figure whose statue was removed, linking the Columbus action to a broader critique of the Spanish mission system.
• The Columbian Exchange: The historical term for the transfer of goods, people, and diseases between the Old and New Worlds, now taught with a focus on its devastating human cost.
• Historical Monuments and Statues: Physical entities like the Columbus/Isabella statue that were removed as part of the state’s commitment to change.
• California Native American Day: A separate, existing holiday used by Newsom's administration to sign new laws promoting Native American education.

By focusing on these specific entities, Newsom’s administration has moved beyond simple political rhetoric to embed a new historical consciousness directly into the state's educational and civic infrastructure. The goal is not to erase history, but to teach a more complete, and often more painful, version of it.

The Lasting Impact on California's Historical Memory

The combined actions of declaring Indigenous Peoples' Day, removing the Columbus statue, and revising the school curriculum represent a comprehensive effort to de-center the European-centric narrative of California's past. Governor Gavin Newsom has leveraged his position to institutionalize historical change, ensuring that the legacy of Christopher Columbus is permanently re-contextualized.

The "maps" of California's history are being redrawn to be more accurate, more critical, and ultimately, more inclusive. For students today, the story of 1492 will be one of contact and consequence, not simply one of "discovery." This policy shift is a lasting testament to the power of political will to shape historical memory and redefine cultural identity for a diverse state.