
Juneteenth
Juneteenth is a time to gather with family and community, honor the present and reflect on shared history and tradition. Discover the tastes, sounds and experiences of this African American cultural tradition.
What is Juneteenth?
On June 19, 1865, Union General Gordon Granger arrived in Galveston, Texas. He informed the enslaved African Americans of their freedom and that the Civil War had ended. This momentous occasion has been celebrated as Juneteenth — a combination of June and 19 — for over 150 years.
We will begin this celebration with a rendition of the Negro National Anthem, "Lift Every Voice and Sing."
Celebrate with the Museum
View Our Full Juneteenth Programming Schedule
Share Your Story
Your history is American history. Share stories of people, places and moments that shape your community this Juneteenth.
The Community Curation Platform provides a unique opportunity for individuals, families, and community groups to share their stories as part of the Museum's online community collection. Begin sharing your stories today by creating an online account with the Museum and uploading your digitized photos and videos. Visit our Submission Guidelines to learn tips on digitizing and what makes for a great community story.
A Juneteenth Feast
Breaking bread with loved ones is an important part of African American culture, and Juneteenth is no different. These selected recipes reflect the holiday’s Texas roots.
Resources

Understanding & Celebrating Juneteenth
For young children, the abstract concept of freedom and the hard history of slavery can be challenging to grasp. The museum offers resources to support young children’s understanding and celebration of Juneteenth in age appropriate ways.

Juneteenth Reading List
Discover more about the history of Juneteenth and African American cultural traditions with a summer reading list curated by the National Museum of African American History and Culture.

Social Media Toolkit
Celebrate Juneteenth with the museum on social!

Limited Edition Collection ends July 9th
Help represent this holiday with products that honor Juneteenth as celebrated for over 150 years, in support of the museum.
This year’s Juneteenth programming is supported by CVS Health.