Your instructor will require you to research U.S. newspapers from the 19th century to trace the emergence of statues/monuments dedicated to Christopher Columbus. Washington University Libraries have purchased access to a number of databases which cover major markets (big cities) with long-lasting titles. I have included an open-access database in this list as well, Chronicling America, because it features newspapers from smaller markets (towns) and titles that may have lasted only a few years.  

Immediately below you will find links to those newspapers as well as a video tutorial on how to use them.

Early American Newspapers, 1690-1922 over 1,000 U.S. historical newspapers published between 1690 and 1922, including titles from all 50 states. Video tutorial

Nineteenth Century U. S. Newspapers (1800 - 1900) fully-scanned pages for hundreds of 19th century U.S. newspapers including not just articles and editorials but advertisements and illustrations as well. Video tutorial

Historical American Newspapers (ProQuest) includes The Atlanta Constitution (1868-1942), Boston Globe (1872 - 1991), Hartford Courant (1764 - 1997), Los Angeles Times (1865-1922), The New York Times (1851-1993), San Francisco Chronicle (1869-1922), St. Louis Post-Dispatch (1874-1922), The Wall Street Journal (1889 - 2011), and The Washington Post  (1877 - 2006). Video tutorial 

Chronicling America - free access to U.S. newspapers from 46 states, Puerto Rico and the District of Columbia, published between 1789 and 1963 in 18 languages. Video tutorial

Finding newspapers in the catalog - You can search the catalog by title or by subject to find a particular newspaper or all of the newspapers for a given city. Video tutorial