Galveston Unveils Plan for National Juneteenth Center at Historic Ashton Villa

On Thursday, the City of Galveston announced its plans to establish a National Juneteenth Center, commemorating the location where the formal declaration of the end of slavery was made in 1865. The initiative, called “Juneteenth’s Home,” aims to cement Galveston’s place as the birthplace of the holiday while serving as a space for education, remembrance, and celebration.

On the steps of Ashton Villa, a significant location where General Order No. 3 was proclaimed, Mayor Dr. Craig Brown characterized the initiative as a collaborative endeavor by the community. “Representing the City of Galveston, we are pleased to announce that we are advancing a program to develop an approach to Juneteenth,” Brown stated. “Gathering community input will be crucial as we progress.”

The city's announcement received backing from local leaders and federal officials, including U.S. Representative Randy Weber (R-Texas) expressed his support for the project. “My door’s always open,” Weber remarked, playfully noting that even the mayor has his personal cell phone number.

Although the specifics of the center are still being determined, Brown indicated that the city intends to engage residents and historians in the development of the project’s vision—whether it evolves into a new structure, a renovation, or a series of locations.

The city is set to take a significant step forward by issuing a Request for Qualifications on Nov. 3, seeking a master planning partner to assist in designing the project. Submissions must be received by December 22, and the planning phase is anticipated to extend into the spring.

The announcement recognized the efforts of community advocates who played a crucial role in promoting the idea, including the Galveston Historical Foundation and Alice Gatson, chairwoman of its African American Heritage Committee. Gatson shared a statement from Jason Edwards, the chairman of Juneteenth USA, a nonprofit established in 1979 by his father, the late Texas Rep. Al Edwards, who was instrumental in the movement to designate Juneteenth as an official state holiday.

“Juneteenth symbolized a significant milestone,” Edwards wrote. “It represented the promise of freedom fulfilled and the ongoing responsibility to preserve that legacy.” He stated that the new initiative “will guarantee that Galveston continues to be the foundation of Juneteenth history for future generations.”

Though still in early stages, the city’s proposal marks growing momentum behind the effort to give Juneteenth a permanent national home—in the very town where freedom was first declared.

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