A small Ohio flag waves in the wind in front of dozens of taller American flags.
Ohio began celebrating what is now known as Presidents' Day in the late 1870s when Ohio-born President Rutherford B. Hayes made George Washington’s birthday a federal holiday. Presidents’ Day is now the third Monday of February. Credit: Frank Lewis / Signal Cleveland

Presidents Day, formerly known as Washington’s Birthday, is celebrated on the third Monday of February. The birthday of the country’s first president  became an unofficial holiday long before his death. President Rutherford B. Hayes made it official in 1879. At that time, only federal workers in Washington, D.C., got the day off. In 1885 it was decided that all federal workers, in the then 38 states, would get the holiday.

Eventually, the holiday included honoring President Abraham Lincoln, whose birthday is Feb. 12 and all U.S. Presidents.

Which federal offices will be closed?

All federal agencies will be closed on Monday, Feb. 17.
Keep in mind, post offices will be closed, so mail will not be delivered.

Will city, county and state offices be open?

Cleveland City Hall will be closed for President’s Day.

Cuyahoga County government offices will also be closed for the holiday. The county treasurer’s office will have extended hours on Saturday, Feb. 15, to accept property tax payments, which are due on Feb. 20.

An important note from the county’s website: “Due to routine maintenance, websites may be unavailable on Monday, Feb. 17, from 6 a.m. to 11 p.m..

State of Ohio offices will be closed.

Will banks be closed?

Yes, banks will observe the holiday.

What else is closed on Feb. 15, 2025?

The Cleveland Metropolitan School District will be closed along with most local school districts. 

Cleveland Public Library branches will also be closed.

NASDAQ and the New York Stock Exchange will not be open.

What is open?

Cuyahoga County Library branches will be open.

UPS and FedEx offices will be open, as will most major retailers and grocery stores.

If you plan to visit a local retailer or restaurant, it is a good idea to check their hours before you go.

Did you know…

Not all states recognize Presidents Day. Delaware, Florida, Iowa, Kansas, Kentucky, Louisiana, North Carolina and Rhode Island do not observe it as a state holiday.

Signal Cleveland is a nonprofit newsroom that fuses community building with local news reporting. We produce authoritative, trustworthy daily journalism across a range of topics, including government, economy, education, health, and safety and resilience.