Juneteenth celebration at museum in Lyons

The Wayne County Multicultural Arts Project and the Wayne County Historical Society are partnering to present a Juneteenth celebration. This festive event will take place on Saturday, June 25, on the lawn of the Wayne County Museum.

Buffalo soldiers, drummers, dancers, and storytellers will perform throughout the day. Refreshments will be available. Museum admission will be reduced to one dollar.

Juneteenth commemorates the end of slavery in the United States. Although President Lincoln had issued the Emancipation Proclamation in 1862, slaves in Texas were not freed when the proclamation went into effect on January 1, 1863.

It was not until General Gordon Granger arrived at Galveston Bay on June 19, 1865, that the Texas slaves were told they were free. Since slaves had been denied the tools of literacy, 'June nineteenth' became 'Juneteenth' via oral tradition.

This year marks the 140th anniversary of this historic event and the first Juneteenth celebration at the Wayne County Museum.

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