Observed in New York state, Verrazzano Day commemorates the discovery of New York Harbor by the Italian navigator Giovanni da Verrazzano on April 17, 1524. With the backing of King Francis I of France, Verrazzano sailed his ship to the New World, reaching the Carolina coast in March 1524, and then sailing northward, exploring the eastern coast of North America. He also discovered Block Island and Narragansett Bay in what is now Rhode Island. In naming the Verrazzano-Narrows Bridge, New York gave Verrazzano official recognition. Discuss
Source: The Free Dictionary