Historic sites across Galveston tell the story of Juneteenth and Texas black history

Today, Galveston is recognized as the birthplace of Juneteenth, and the city preserves numerous sites connected to the holiday and African American history in Texas.

"Juneteenth wasn't just one day," said Tommie D. Boudreaux of the Galveston Historical Foundation. "It's a story that continues to be told year-round here in Galveston."

One of the most prominent landmarks is Ashton Villa, where Texas state Rep. Al Edwards launched the state's first official Juneteenth celebration in 1980 after successfully sponsoring legislation establishing Juneteenth as a Texas state holiday in 1979.

The historic mansion, built in the 1850s, is considered one of the oldest brick structures in Texas. Historians note that enslaved laborers helped construct the building, brick by brick.

Nearby stands Reedy Chapel AME Church, founded by formerly enslaved people in 1848. The church is one of the sites where Granger's General Order No. 3 was read to residents, informing enslaved Texans of their freedom.

The church survived both the devastating 1885 fire and the catastrophic Galveston Hurricane of 1900. It remains both a Texas Historic Landmark and a nationally recognized site. In 2025, former President Joe Biden visited the church during Juneteenth commemorations.

Reedy Chapel is also home to a rare 1872 pipe organ built by Hook & Hastings. The instrument, which contains roughly 800 pipes, is one of only two surviving examples of its kind in the United States. The other is housed at the Smithsonian Institution.

Along Galveston's historic Strand District, a Juneteenth marker details the events of June 19, 1865, and commemorates the location of Granger's headquarters. Historians say the area played a key role in spreading news of emancipation across Texas.

Galveston is also home to several other landmarks significant to Black history, including Texas' first Black high school, the state's first Black public library and L Avenue Church, which was built in 1840 and is believed to be the oldest Black church in Texas.

The city also celebrates the legacy of Jack Johnson, who was born in Galveston and became the first Black heavyweight champion of the world.

Boudreaux said much of that history was absent from her education growing up.

"We didn't learn a lot of this in school," she said. "That's why it's important to preserve these stories and share them with future generations."

Juneteenth became a federal holiday in 2021, but in Galveston, the history behind the observance remains a year-round focus. The city is hosting multiple events and celebrations this weekend to commemorate the 161st anniversary of the day that enslaved Texans learned they were free.