Tuesday, May 5, 2026

Question: What California town hosted the first documented Cinco de Mayo celebration in 1862?

Answer: Columbia, a Gold Rush town in Tuolumne County. On May 27, 1862, Mexican-American miners held what’s considered the first documented U.S. Cinco de Mayo celebration, marking Mexico’s victory at Puebla with music and patriotic tributes. The holiday has since grown far bigger in the U.S. than in most of Mexico.