New Yorkers Celebrate The End Of  The Great War

November 11 originally known as Armistice Day commemorates the formal end of World War I.

The Armistice which ended the Great War on November 11, 1918 was greeted with elation all over the world. In New York tens of thousands of people took to the streets to celebrate. The news slug says:

New York City – A cart filled with celebrants added the noise of their drums and cymbals to their cheers as they rode through the streets. photo: Wide World Photos November 11, 1918

Starting the following year, 1919, millions of people across the country were celebrating the day as a holiday with parades, barbecues and other commemorations, In 1920, California became among the first states to proclaim the day as legal holiday by order of Governor William Stephens.

Armistice Day became a national legal holiday in 1938. And, in 1954 Armistice Day was renamed Veterans Day.