General Orders, No. 3, was issued on June 19, 1865. The orders, among others read by General Gordon Granger at sites throughout the city, announced to the people of Texas that all enslaved people were free. This day, now known as Juneteenth, Freedom Day, or Emancipation Day, is one of Galveston Island’s most important historical moments and has been marked by remembrance and celebrations almost every year since. Visit www.galvestonhistory.org/juneteenth for photos, history, and more.
SCHEDULE OF EVENTS
Open Tue-Sun All June
Adult – $10
Youth (6-18) – $5
Children (5 & Under) – Free
The exhibit draws from over 16 interviews and numerous historical documents and histories. In addition to the recorded contemporary histories, the site features numerous digital touchpoints interacting with the collected photos, stories, and research while connecting to other resources on Juneteenth Island. During June, we will be featuring weekly “mini-lectures” inside the exhibit. Presented by members of GHF’s African American Heritage Committee, these short presentations, held at 1 p.m. each Saturday, will touch on various pieces of history, connecting to Juneteenth and Galveston Island.
June 7 @ 1 p.m. – Prairie View Interscholastic League (PVIL)
Presented by Greg Samford, David O’Neal and Lillie Little
June 14 @ 1 p.m. – Lost Restaurants of Galveston’s African American Community
Presented by Ella Lewis
June 21 @ 1 p.m. – Notable African Americans of Galveston
Presented by Tommie Boudreaux
June 28 @ 1 p.m. – Reedy Chapel’s Juneteenth Association
Presented by Diane Henderson
Sat., June 7
11:30 a.m.
In-Person or Online – $10
GHF Member – $0
Join bandleader Dandy Wellington for a discussion on slavery’s impact on spiritual music, how many of those songs found their way into the jazz canon, and the origins of spiritual music in a secular setting.
Sat., June 14
Movie Starts at Dusk
FREE ADMISSION!
Soul follows Joe Gardner, a middle-school band teacher and passionate jazz musician, who finally gets the chance of a lifetime to perform with a legendary jazz artist. However, a sudden accident transports him to The Great Before, a whimsical realm where souls gain their personalities before being born on Earth. Inspired by director Pete Docter’s reflections on his own son’s innate personality, the film explores the idea that we’re all born with a unique sense of self.
Tue., June 17
10 a.m. – 2 p.m.
FREE ADMISSION!
Join us for a Juneteenth 2025 celebration on the historic grounds of the 1838 Menard House—the oldest residence in Galveston—where history comes alive through outdoor programs and living history reenactments. Discover the stories of Juneteenth and the Underground Railroad as interpreters portray the voices of freedom-seekers and trailblazers who shaped our nation’s journey toward emancipation. The Buffalo Soldiers will host an encampment, offering an inspiring glimpse into their legacy and encouraging youth to connect with this proud heritage. Families are invited to bring sack lunches and enjoy picnicking under the open sky. This educational and engaging event is free and open to the public—come celebrate freedom, resilience, and community where history was made.
Tue., June 24
11:30 a.m. – 1 p.m.
$10 – In-Person or Online
FREE for GHF Members
The PVIL existed from 1920-1970 to govern extracurricular activities for Black high schools in Texas during segregation. This presentation will highlight the all-star football games played in high school stadiums across the state, of which Galveston’s Kermit Courville stadium remains the sole survivor of the era.
Tue., July 22
11:30 a.m. – 1 p.m.
$10 – In-Person or Online
FREE for GHF Members
Presented by Daniel P. Ott, Ph.D., National Park Service – Transcending race, religion and nationality, the Underground Railroad (UGRR) joined the American ideals of liberty and freedom expressed in the Declaration of Independence and Constitution with the extraordinary actions of men and women working in common purpose to free a people. Historian and Western Regions Coordinator of the National Underground Network to Freedom, Daniel P. Ott, will share documented histories of freedom seeking which make Texas and the western United States unique in the national UGRR story.
ABOUT GALVESTON HISTORICAL FOUNDATION
Galveston Historical Foundation (GHF) was formed as the Galveston Historical Society in 1871 and merged with a new organization formed in 1954 as a non-profit entity devoted to historic preservation and history in Galveston County. Over the last sixty years, GHF has expanded its mission to encompass community redevelopment, historic preservation advocacy, maritime preservation, coastal resiliency and stewardship of historic properties. GHF embraces a broader vision of history and architecture that encompasses advancements in environmental and natural sciences and their intersection with historic buildings and coastal life and conceives of history as an engaging story of individual lives and experiences on Galveston Island from the 19th century to the present day.
