Re-enactor Marvin-Alonzo Greer is shown during a Juneteenth celebration at the Atlanta Cyclorama and Civil War Museum, June 20, 2014.Kent D. Johnson—AP Photo
It was back in April that we marked the anniversary of the surrender at Appomattox Court House, which is seen by many as the unofficial end of the American Civil War. But word of the Civil War’s end didn’t reach Texas until June 19, 1865.
Texas got the big news a little late. On June 19, 1865 — nearly a month after the Civil War ended and more than two years after President Abraham Lincoln issued the Emancipation Proclamation — General Gordon Granger of the Union Army landed at Galveston, Texas, and read aloud General Order No. 3: “The people of Texas are informed that in accordance with a Proclamation from the Executive of the United States, all slaves are free.”
Spontaneous celebrations broke out in Galveston and spread around the state — and thus the holiday of “Juneteenth” began.
What followed, however, was more complicated than the early celebration suggested. Proof could be found in a New York Timesstory from that July, headlined “The Negro Question in Texas.” The story reported that Granger’s order had specified to the people of Texas that the freedom of the former slaves “involves an absolute equality of personal rights and rights of property between former masters and slaves.”
It seemed that the people of Houston didn’t quite get the message: freedmen were being interrogated as to whom they belonged to; if they did not name someone, they would be accused of idleness and put to work for the city. “[So], if this was an outbreak of the old spirit, a drawing distinctions based upon color alone, giving white men the right to be as idle as they please, but not tolerating idleness among the blacks; allowing whites to work where they please, but sending blacks ‘home to their masters’ or to the public works; it is a system which will have to be changed at Galveston, or wherever it is entered upon,” the Times concluded.
It took years before Juneteenth celebrations expanded. One remnant of early commemorations can still be seen in cities like Houston, where the still-in-use Emancipation Park was created after the freed population pooled money in 1872 to purchase the land in order to use it for Juneteenth celebrations.
More than a century later, in 1997, Congress recognized Juneteenth with a joint resolution, commemorating the fact that “Juneteenth celebrations have thus been held for 130 years to honor the memory of all those who endured slavery and especially those who moved from slavery to freedom,” though it is not a nationally recognized holiday.
At least one place, however, will mark the anniversary with major festivities: Galveston, Tex.
Allan Pinkerton, President Lincoln, and Maj. Gen. John A. McClernand; at the main eastern theater of the war, Battle of Antietam, Sept.-Oct., 1862.Alexander Gardner—Library of CongressAllan Pinkerton, President Lincoln, and Maj. Gen. John A. McClernand; at the main eastern theater of the war, Battle of Antietam, Sept.-Oct., 1862.Photo colorization by Sanna Dullaway for TIME; Original image: Alexander Gardner—Library of CongressSurgeons of the 3rd Division before hospital tent in Petersburg, Va., Aug. 1864.Library of CongressSurgeons of the 3rd Division before hospital tent in Petersburg, Va., Aug. 1864.Photo colorization by Sanna Dullaway for TIME; Original image: Library of CongressJohn L. Burns, the "old hero of Gettysburg," with gun and crutches in Gettysburg, Penn., July, 1863.Mathew Brady—Library of CongressJohn L. Burns, the "old hero of Gettysburg," with gun and crutches in Gettysburg, Penn., July, 1863.Photo colorization by Sanna Dullaway for TIME; Original image: Mathew Brady—Library of CongressWashington, District of Columbia. Tent life of the 31st Penn. Inf. at Queen's farm, vicinity of Fort Slocum in Washington, DC, 1861.Library of CongressWashington, District of Columbia. Tent life of the 31st Penn. Inf. at Queen's farm, vicinity of Fort Slocum in Washington, DC, 1861.Photo colorization by Sanna Dullaway for TIME; Original image: Library of CongressAllan Pinkerton ("E. J. Allen") of the Secret Service on horseback in Antietam, Md., Oct. 1862.Alexander Gardner—Library of CongressAllan Pinkerton ("E. J. Allen") of the Secret Service on horseback in Antietam, Md., Oct. 1862.Photo colorization by Sanna Dullaway for TIME; Original image: Alexander Gardner—Library of CongressCock fighting at Gen. Orlando B. Willcox's headquarters in Petersburg, Va., 1864.David Knox—Library of CongressCock fighting at Gen. Orlando B. Willcox's headquarters in Petersburg, Va., 1864.Photo colorization by Sanna Dullaway for TIME; Original image: David Knox—Library of CongressCamp of Captain [John J.] Hoff., in Gettysburg, Penn., July, 1865William Morris Smith—Library of CongressCamp of Captain [John J.] Hoff., in Gettysburg, Penn., July, 1865Photo colorization by Sanna Dullaway for TIME; Original image: William Morris Smith—Library of CongressAfrican American legislator Robert Smalls of South Carolina. Library of CongressAfrican American legislator Robert Smalls of South Carolina. Photo colorization by Sanna Dullaway for TIME; Original image: Library of CongressPortrait of Rear Adm. David D. Porter, officer of the Federal Navy, 1860.Mathew Brady—Library of CongressPortrait of Rear Adm. David D. Porter, officer of the Federal Navy, 1860.Photo colorization by Sanna Dullaway for TIME; Original image: Mathew Brady—Library of CongressPortrait of Maj. Gen. George A. Custer, officer of the Federal Army, 1865.Mathew Brady—Library of CongressPortrait of Maj. Gen. George A. Custer, officer of the Federal Army, 1865.Photo colorization by Sanna Dullaway for TIME; Original image: Mathew Brady—Library of CongressPortrait of President Abraham Lincoln, 1863. Alexander Gardner—Library of CongressPortrait of President Abraham Lincoln, 1863. Photo colorization by Sanna Dullaway for TIME; Original image: Alexander Gardner—Library of CongressPresident Lincoln on the battlefieldLibrary of CongressPresident Lincoln on the battlefieldPhoto colorization by Sanna Dullaway for TIME; Original image: Library of CongressPresident Lincoln and Gen. George B. McClellan in the general's tent, Antietam, Md., Sept. - Oct. 1862.Alexander Gardner—Library of CongressPresident Lincoln and Gen. George B. McClellan in the general's tent, Antietam, Md., Sept. - Oct. 1862.Photo colorization by Sanna Dullaway for TIME; Original image: Alexander Gardner—Library of CongressCapt. Custer of the 5th Cavalry is seen with Lt. Washington, a prisoner and former classmate.Library of CongressCapt. Custer of the 5th Cavalry is seen with Lt. Washington, a prisoner and former classmate.Photo colorization by Sanna Dullaway for TIME; Original image: Library of CongressOfficer's mess, Company E, 93rd New York Volunteers, in Bealeton, Va., Aug., 1863Timothy H. O'Sullivan—Library of CongressOfficer's mess, Company E, 93rd New York Volunteers, in Bealeton, Va., Aug., 1863Photo colorization by Sanna Dullaway for TIME; Original image: Timothy H. O'Sullivan—Library of CongressThree Confederate prisoners in Gettysburg, Penn., June-July, 1863.Library of CongressThree Confederate prisoners in Gettysburg, Penn., June-July, 1863.Photo colorization by Sanna Dullaway for TIME; Original image: Library of CongressDead on battlefield at 1st Bull Run, 1862-1865Library of CongressDead on battlefield at 1st Bull Run, 1862-1865Photo colorization by Sanna Dullaway for TIME; Original image: Library of CongressDead Confederate sharpshooter at foot of Little Round Top on the battlefield at Gettysburg, July, 1863Timothy H. O'Sullivan—Library of CongressDead Confederate sharpshooter at foot of Little Round Top on the battlefield at Gettysburg, July, 1863Photo colorization by Sanna Dullaway for TIME; Original image: Timothy H. O'Sullivan—Library of CongressRemembering the dead at Sudley Church near Bull Run, Va. March 1862.George N. Barnard—Library of CongressRemembering the dead at Sudley Church near Bull Run, Va. March 1862.Photo colorization by Sanna Dullaway for TIME; Original image: George N. Barnard—Library of CongressA surgical photo from the Surgeon General's War Department shows an injured soldier with both arms amputated. Library of CongressA surgical photo from the Surgeon General's War Department shows an injured soldier with both arms amputated. Photo colorization by Sanna Dullaway for TIME; Original image: Library of CongressPowder boy by gun of U.S.S. New Hampshire off the coast of Charleston, S.C., 1860.Library of CongressPowder boy by gun of U.S.S. New Hampshire off the coast of Charleston, S.C., 1860.Photo colorization by Sanna Dullaway for TIME; Original image: Library of CongressUnidentified African American soldier in Union uniform with wife and two daughters, 1863-1865.Library of CongressUnidentified African American soldier in Union uniform with wife and two daughters, 1863-1865.Photo colorization by Sanna Dullaway for TIME; Original image: Library of CongressMary Todd LincolnMathew Brady—Library of CongressMary Todd LincolnPhoto colorization by Sanna Dullaway for TIME; Original image: Mathew Brady—Library of CongressAbraham Lincoln in a reflective pose, in Washington, DC, May 16, 1861. Mathew Brady—Library of CongressAbraham Lincoln in a reflective pose, in Washington, DC, May 16, 1861. Photo colorization by Sanna Dullaway for TIME; Original image: Mathew Brady—Library of CongressLewis Payne, a conspirator in the assassination of President Lincoln, in the Washington Navy Yard, April-July 1865. Alexander Gardner—Library of CongressLewis Payne, a conspirator in the assassination of President Lincoln, in the Washington Navy Yard, April-July 1865. Photo colorization by Sanna Dullaway for TIME; Original image: Alexander Gardner—Library of CongressDavid E. Herold, a conspirator in the assassination of President Lincoln, in the Washington Navy Yard, April-July 1865. Alexander Gardner—Library of CongressDavid E. Herold, a conspirator in the assassination of President Lincoln, in the Washington Navy Yard, April-July 1865. Photo colorization by Sanna Dullaway for TIME; Original image: Alexander Gardner—Library of CongressFrederick DouglassLibrary of CongressFrederick DouglassPhoto colorization by Sanna Dullaway for TIME; Original image: Library of CongressPortrait of Maj. Gen. Ambrose E. Burnside, officer of the Federal Army, 1860-1865.Mathew Brady—Library of CongressPortrait of Maj. Gen. Ambrose E. Burnside, officer of the Federal Army, 1860-1865.Photo colorization by Sanna Dullaway for TIME; Original image: Mathew Brady—Library of CongressThe staff of Gen. Fitz-John Porter, Lieutenant William G. Jones and George A. Custer reclining at Falmouth, Va., 1863Library of CongressThe staff of Gen. Fitz-John Porter, Lieutenant William G. Jones and George A. Custer reclining at Falmouth, Va., 1863Photo colorization by Sanna Dullaway for TIME; Original image: Library of CongressSoldiers bathing near the ruins of a railroad bridge, North Anna River, Va, May, 1864.Timothy H. O'Sullivan—Library of CongressSoldiers bathing near the ruins of a railroad bridge, North Anna River, Va, May, 1864.Photo colorization by Sanna Dullaway for TIME; Original image: Timothy H. O'Sullivan—Library of CongressAlfred R. Waud, artist of Harper's Weekly, sketching on battlefield in Gettysburg, Penn., July 1863.Timothy H. O'Sullivan—Library of CongressAlfred R. Waud, artist of Harper's Weekly, sketching on battlefield in Gettysburg, Penn., July 1863.Photo colorization by Sanna Dullaway for TIME; Original image: Timothy H. O'Sullivan—Library of Congress