Celebrating Juneteenth

Juneteenth commemorates the day on June 19, 1865 when a Union general read orders in Galveston, Texas stating all enslaved people in the state were free according to federal law. Juneteenth was designated a federal holiday in 2021.

Juneteenth marks our country’s second independence day. Although it has long celebrated in the African American community, this monumental event remains largely unknown to most Americans. For more information about the history of this important day visit the National Museum of African American History and Culture’s website: https://nmaahc.si.edu/juneteenth