• Land ho! New Yorkers celebrate Columbus Day with a parade

    Keith Bedford / Reuters

    Boys dressed as Italian explorer Christopher Columbus march during the annual Columbus Day Parade along Fifth Avenue in New York City on Oct. 8.

    Seth Wenig / AP

    School children wave Italian flags as they pass by on a float during the Columbus Day parade in New York, on Oct. 8.

    Justin Lane / EPA

    Marching bands participate during the 68th annual Columbus Day parade in New York, Oct. 8. The annual event celebrates the day that Christopher Columbus landed in the Americas in 1492.

    Justin Lane / EPA

    Children sit on a giant bust of Christopher Columbus during the 68th annual Columbus Day parade in New York, Oct. 8.

    Keith Bedford / Reuters

    A parade participant is driven on a golf cart during the annual Columbus Day Parade along Fifth Avenue in New York on Oct. 8.

    Previously on PhotoBlog: Christopher Columbus welcomes visitors to new New York City digs

    Follow @NBCNewsPictures

    Sign up for the NBCNews.com Photos Newsletter

    Comment

    Show more
    Explore related topics: , , , , ,

  • Christopher Columbus welcomes visitors to new New York City digs

    Mary Altaffer / AP

    Visitors take in the view during a media preview of "Discovering Columbus," by Japanese artist Tatzu Nishi, on Sept. 19 in New York's Columbus Circle.

    A statue of Christopher Columbus in New York City got its very own penthouse when it was erected on scaffolding as part of an art installation by Japanese artist Tatzu Nishi. TODAY's Natalie Morales reports.

    Starting today, visitors to Columbus Circle in New York City will have the opportunity to get cozy with one of the city's iconic statues inside a new contemporary living room built six stories above a bustling traffic circle.

    Japanese artist Tatzu Nishi created the 810-square-foot living room atop the Columbus Monunment, so people could get an up close view of the 13-foot statue of Christopher Columbus standing amid couches, lamps and a coffee table.

    "Discovering Columbus" will be open through Nov. 18, and will be free of charge, though visitors will need to reserve passes in advance through the Public Art Fund in Columbus Circle.

    Mary Altaffer / AP

    A 13-foot statue of Christopher Columbus stands amid the couches, lamps and coffee table of the artist installation in New York City.

    Justin Lane / EPA

    Traffic passes by the 'Discovering Columbus' apartment (white building) built by artist Tatzu Nishi around the Christopher Columbus statue located in Columbus Circle in New York City on Sept. 19.