Today marks Martin Luther King Jr. Day, as well as the 40th anniversary of the holiday being observed nationwide.
The federal holiday honoring Martin Luther King Jr. was created in 1983, when Ronald Reagan signed the legislation into law. The first official nationwide observance followed in 1986. In 1994, Congress expanded the meaning of the holiday by designating it as a National Day of Service, encouraging Americans to volunteer and support their communities in Dr. King’s honor. By 2000, all 50 states formally recognized the holiday at the state level. While the law was passed more than four decades ago, 2026 marks 40 years since the first nationwide celebration.
In observance of the holiday, the Indiana State Museum and Historic Sites is offering free admission at several southwest Indiana locations. Sites open today include Angel Mounds, New Harmony, and the Vincennes State Historic Sites, weather permitting. Many of the locations are typically closed on Mondays but are open for the holiday.
The Vincennes University campus will also mark the occasion later this week. The university will host a Martin Luther King Memorial Walk on Thursday, January 22, from 11 a.m. to noon on the indoor walking track at the Student Recreation Center.
Meanwhile, all Vincennes city government offices are closed today. Recycling pickup is delayed one week, while trash service will continue as scheduled.
