Most of Jefferson City’s approximately 14,000 state employees have today off, to celebrate President Abraham Lincoln’s birthday.
Lincoln’s birthday is one of Missouri’s 13 official state holidays. The nation’s 16th president was from neighboring Illinois, issuing the Emancipation Proclamation in 1863 that declared forever free those slaves within the Confederacy.
Most Missouri state and county offices are closed today, except emergency services like the Missouri State Highway Patrol, state prisons and county sheriff departments. County courthouses are also closed today, so there will be no court or trials today.
Lincoln’s birthday is not a federal holiday. Next Monday is Washington’s birthday, which is Presidents’ Day. That is a federal, Missouri and county holiday.