Here’s the scoop (no sugar-coating): whether Missouri or Illinois “observe” Indigenous Peoples’ Day instead of Columbus Day is a mixed bag. It depends on which “level” you mean (state, local, school districts), and “observe” can mean anything from a full-blown holiday to just a proclamation or event. Let us break it down.
Missouri
- Missouri officially observes Columbus Day as a state holiday on the second Monday in October. Missouri Office of Administration+2pers.oa.mo.gov+2
- In fact, the state’s personnel/HR site lists “second Monday in October – Columbus Day” as one of the state’s paid holidays. pers.oa.mo.gov
- Some counties and governments may also recognize Indigenous Peoples’ Day in some fashion (e.g. via proclamations or dual observance), but the primary legal holiday in Missouri is still Columbus Day. For example, in Kansas City the city formally recognizes Indigenous Peoples’ Day, even while the state continues closing offices for Columbus Day. Axios
- So if you’re asking “will state offices in Missouri be closed?” — yes, for Columbus Day. Missouri Office of Administration+2Missourinet+2
Illinois
Illinois is trickier and more nuanced:
- Illinois has a law recognizing Indigenous Peoples’ Day as a commemorative observance on the last Monday in September (not in October). FindLaw Codes+2NBC Chicago+2
- But that does not replace Columbus Day in Illinois (at least so far). The state still officially observes Columbus Day (the second Monday in October) as the state holiday in many contexts. Chicago Sun-Times+2NBC Chicago+2
- Some entities (cities, school districts) in Illinois may choose to observe Indigenous Peoples’ Day on Columbus Day or make local changes, but that is not uniform or mandated statewide. Village of Barrington Hills+1
- There have been efforts to change the law to move the Indigenous Peoples’ Day observance to October and remove Columbus Day (e.g. HB3982) but as of latest sources, those haven’t fully passed or taken effect. NBC Chicago+3Illinois General Assembly+3Illinois General Assembly+3
- Also, interestingly, some media sources list “Columbus Day or Indigenous Peoples’ Day” in Illinois state holiday calendars, probably reflecting ambiguity or local variations. Factorial
- In practice, many state-level offices in Illinois don’t list Columbus Day as a holiday in their “state holidays” pages (i.e. it may not always be a paid day off). For example, the Illinois central management services state holiday list doesn’t show Columbus Day on 2025. Illinois CMS
What that means for October 13 (the second Monday in October)
- Missouri: Yes — October 13 (when it falls on the 2nd Monday) is observed as Columbus Day by the state.
- Illinois: The state does not observe Indigenous Peoples’ Day on that date (Illinois reserves Indigenous Peoples’ Day for the last Monday in September). The October 13 slot is still treated as Columbus Day in many institutional contexts, though in many localities there may be alternative observances or symbolic recognition of Indigenous Peoples.
I hope this helps you as much as us. I know I had questions!
By: Kelly Jackson
