On Labor Day, we celebrate American workers and their contributions to this great country. Held on the first Monday in September, this annual holiday is a creation of the American labor movement. In the late nineteenth century, labor activists wanted a federal holiday that would recognize American workers for their contributions in making America a strong, prosperous nation.

While the first Labor Day holiday was actually celebrated on a Tuesday, congress signed a bill into law on June 28, 1894 to make the first Monday in September of each year a legal holiday.

Information on the history of Labor Day can be found on the Department of Labor webpage: https://www.dol.gov/general/laborday/history

Credit: U.S. Department of Labor