Intrepid explorer who discovered America or merciless oppressor of the native peoples who already lived here? Some historians paint a darker picture of Christopher Columbus these days, and nearly a quarter (24%) of adults now don't think America should honor him with a national holiday.

Fifty-eight percent (58%) disagree and say Columbus should be honored with a holiday. Seventeen percent (17%) are undecided.

Sixty-nine percent (69%) of Republicans favor continuance of Columbus Day, compared to 52% of Democrats and 54% of adults not affiliated with either party. Democrats are nearly twice as likely as Republicans to think Columbus should not be honored.

Sixty-one percent (61%) of whites say Columbus deserves a holiday, a view shared by just 50% of African-Americans and 51% of those in other racial categories.

Perhaps surprisingly, younger Americans are more supportive of the famous Italian explorer than their elders. Seventy-two percent (72%) of both men and women under 40 believe Columbus should be honored with a holiday. Only 57% of men over 40 and 53% of women over 40 agree. (Want a free daily e-mail update ? If it's in the news, it's in our polls). Rasmussen Reports updates are also available on Twitter or Facebook.

Columbus Day honors the anniversary of the October 12, 1492 arrival of Christopher Columbus in the Americas. But some historians look beyond his discovery of a new world to his actions upon arrival, including violence against and enslavement of those already living here, forced conversion of native peoples to Christianity and the introduction of a host of new diseases into the native population.

Despite these claims, however, 69% of Americans have a favorable impression of Columbus, down slightly from two years ago. Twenty-five percent (25%) have a very favorable view. Just 21% hold a somewhat or very unfavorable opinion of the explorer.

The overwhelming majority of adults (72%) correctly identify 1492 as the year Columbus discovered the Americas. Five percent (5%) say 1482, four percent (4% ) think 1392, and three percent (3%) say 1592. Seventeen percent (17%) aren't sure.

More Americans between 18 and 29 years of age and those over 50 correctly answered the year of Columbus' discovery than those between 30 and 40 years old.

However, just 12% of adults consider Columbus Day as one of the nation's most important holidays. Thirty-seven percent (37%) deem it the least important, while 49% say it's somewhere in between the most and least important holiday. Two percent (2%) are undecided. These numbers have held steady since the previous survey.

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