Galveston officials express unanimous support for a Juneteenth museum honoring the city's historic role, with funding and location still under discussion.
Galveston city leaders are becoming increasingly supportive of building a Juneteenth museum to honor the island's pivotal role in the emancipation of enslaved Texans. However, they also acknowledge that important decisions about its location and funding still need to be made.
At a City Council work session on Thursday, everyone present supported the idea of establishing a museum to commemorate Juneteenth. That's the day in 1865 when Union troops in Galveston stated that slavery had ended in Texas, more than two years after the Emancipation Proclamation.
While Mayor Craig Brown said the city should have a role to play, he also stated that it shouldn't be fully responsible. Brown said that the City of Galveston shouldn't be building or running a museum about Juneteenth. "But I think the city should have something to lose."
People discussed seeking state and federal grants, as well as utilizing the city's hotel occupancy tax, as possible ways to secure funding. Writing letters to state and congressional officials was a move that garnered significant support and demonstrated that the council was united behind the project.
U.S. Rep. Randy Weber is also exploring the idea of placing the museum under the Smithsonian Institution's control, which is similar to the National Civil Rights Museum in Memphis.
The old L.A. Morgan Elementary School, which was recently deemed surplus by the Galveston Independent School District, is one of the top candidates for the location of the museum.
A local charity called Hope Tutorial, Inc. has bid $4.5 million for the site, which is more than the $2.8 million offer for workforce housing. Their offer fits with the $7 million that Texas Senate Bill 1 sets aside for a museum about Juneteenth.
The GISD board is likely to choose the land. June 4. Brown said that at the May council meeting, he would attempt to secure a city motion in support of the museum project.
Galveston is gaining popularity as the 160th anniversary of Juneteenth approaches.
Visit Galveston says that the city's Juneteenth events have already been seen more than 200,000 times online.
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