Juneteenth

Celebrated on 06/19/2026

Quick Fact

Juneteenth marks the day on June 19, 1865, when Union General Gordon Granger arrived in Galveston, Texas, to announce the end of the Civil War and the emancipation of enslaved African Americans—over two years after the Emancipation Proclamation. The holiday's name is a blend of 'June' and 'nineteenth.' Texas was the first state to make Juneteenth a state holiday in 1980, and it became a federal holiday in 2021.

Origins and Establishment of Juneteenth

On June 19, 1865, Union General Gordon Granger landed in Galveston, Texas, with news that the Civil War had ended and that enslaved people were now free. This announcement came more than two years after President Abraham Lincoln's Emancipation Proclamation, which had become official on January 1, 1863. The delay was due to the limited presence of Union troops in Texas, a Confederate state, to enforce the order. The newly freed African Americans in Texas began celebrating with prayer, feasting, song, and dance, establishing the first Juneteenth celebrations.

Evolution and Modern Commemoration

Juneteenth celebrations spread from Texas to other states as African Americans migrated. During the Jim Crow era, the holiday faced suppression, but it saw a resurgence during the Civil Rights Movement of the 1950s and 1960s. In 1980, Texas became the first state to recognize Juneteenth as a state holiday. Over time, other states followed, and in 2021, President Joe Biden signed the Juneteenth National Independence Day Act, making it the 11th federal holiday. Today, Juneteenth is celebrated with community gatherings, parades, educational events, and reflections on African American history and culture.

Facts & General Observations

• Juneteenth is the oldest nationally celebrated commemoration of the ending of slavery in the United States.
• As of 2024, all 50 states and the District of Columbia recognize Juneteenth as a state holiday or day of observance.
• The holiday is also known as Emancipation Day, Freedom Day, and Jubilee Day.

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