Residents across the state this weekend will be celebrating Juneteenth, which marks the ending of slavery in the United States.
Juneteenth commemorates the day when slaves, in the last place in America where slavery existed, learned of their freedom,according to the National Juneteenth Observance Foundation.
That day was June 19, 1895, when Union General Gordon Granger, in Galveston, TX, announced that all slaves were free. The Emancipation Proclamation had been signed by President Lincoln on Sept. 22, 1862, but the news didn’t travel to southeast Texas until two and half years later, according to the foundation.
Check out the events this weekend:
From 3 to 5 p.m. Sunday June 19 at the Florence Bain Senior Center, 5470 Ruth Keeton Way, Columbia; free. The event features an African dancer, a Q & A session and more.
From Freedom's Shadow: African Americans and the United States Capitol
Daily, at the Friends of Benjamin Banneker Historical Park, 300 Oella Ave., Catonsville; free. This exhibit depicts the journey of African Americans from slavery to freedom and political representation in the U.S Capitol.
Civil War 150th Anniversary, The War Came By Train
From 11 a.m. to 4 p.m. weekly on Saturdays, Sundays, Wednesdays, Thursdays, and Fridays at theEllicott City B&O Railroad Station Museum, 2711 Maryland Ave., Ellicott City; $2 to $4. Learn about trains during the Civil War through live demonstrations and exhibitions.
Ellicott City Colored School Tour
From 3 to 5 p.m. on Saturdays and Sundays at the Ellicott City Colored School, 8683 Frederick Road, Ellicott City; free. This tour will include history about education in this school and the region, changing exhibits and seminars.
From noon to 5 p.m. Saturday June 18 at Watkins Regional Park, 301 Watkins Park Drive, Route 193 and 214, Upper Marlboro; free. Bring a picnic basket, blanket and lawn chair and enjoy live entertainment, guest speakers, games and fun. Rain or shine.
From 2 to 3:30 p.m. Saturday June 18 at the Juneteenth Museum, 2701 N. Charles St., Baltimore; free. The celebration is sponsored by the Juneteenth Museum and the National Park Service.
In This article
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Juneteenth - Stony the Road We Trod, the 145th Reenactment. From Slavery to Freedom: A Living History
June 19, 2011 at 3:00 pm–5:00 pm -
Florence Bain Senior Center
5470 Ruth Keeton Way, Columbia, MD -
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Friends of Benjamin Banneker Historical Park
300 Oella Ave, Catonsville, MD -
Civil War 150th Anniversary, The War Came By Train
Weekly on Saturdays, Sundays, Wednesdays, Thursdays, and Fridays at 11:00 am–4:00 pm -
Ellicott City B&O Railroad Station Museum
2711 Maryland Ave, Ellicott City, MD
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Ellicott City Colored School Tour
Weekly on Saturdays and Sundays at 3:00 pm–5:00 pm8683 Frederick Rd, Ellicott City, MD (Ellicott City Colored School)
Victoria McSwain
10:04 am on Saturday, June 18, 2011
This is the first time I've heard of this day being celebrated outside of Texas! I lived in TX for quite a few years and "June teenth" was well known and celebrated by all, black and white :-) and why not! Enjoy the day!
Victoria McSwain
Columbia, MD
Brandie Jefferson
11:40 pm on Sunday, June 19, 2011
Victoria, I'm glad to read this. Maybe it's because I'm a "Yankee," (Midwest and New England), but I had never heard of this celebration until I moved to Maryland. Now I'm kind of upset that it isn't something celebrated in every state!