Juneteenth

Juneteenth is an American holiday that commemorates the announcement of the abolition of slavery in Texas on June 19, 1865. But it’s come to have a broader meaning, celebrating the freedom of all black slaves.

The date became even more important when the Civil Rights Act was passed on June 19, 1964.

But that’s just the iceberg’s tip. By coincidence, several momentous events in American Civil Rights history have occurred on or near June 19. As part of James A. Garfield National Historic Site‘s Civil War series, Site Manager Todd Arrington leads us on a time-traipsing tour of these memorable Juneteenths.

Our Civil War series continues at noon on Wednesday, July 10, at our Main Branch. We’ll discuss the Battle of Gettysburg. As always, the talk is free and open to all.

By the way, if you’re interested in Civil War history, several talks in our Civil War series can be viewed online in their entirety, including:

• The Fourteenth Amendment
• The Assassination of Abraham Lincoln
• Life & Legacy of Joshua Lawrence Chamberlain
• Cycloramas as Art, Entertainment & Memorial
• 60 Years of Service: The Life of Admiral David G. Farragut
• Bennett Place: The Final Surrender of the Confederacy
• Ulysses Grant the Election of 1868
• The History of the Medal of Honor
• Burying the Dead after a Civil War Battle
• James A. Garfield & the First Decoration Day
• Prelude to Fort Sumter: The Mexican-American War
• Ambrose Burnside: An Innovator in Firearms & Facial Hair
• Warriors to the White House – Civil War Generals that Became President
• General Winfield Scott Hancock
• the Civil War and the Grand Army of the Republic
• from Civil War to Civil Rights
• political cartooning during and after the Civil War
• the Civil War and USS Michigan