Historic Richmond Town’s 2023 Juneteenth Celebration Features Day of Special Programs
Learn about the history of this important national holiday, commemorating the end of slavery in America.
SUNDAY, JUNE 18 | 11 AM-5 PM
ADMISSION – $15
MEMBERS – $10
KIDS 5 AND UNDER – FREE
Historic Richmond Town’s 2023 Juneteenth Celebration Features Day of Special Programs. Visit Historic Richmond Town to honor Juneteenth, featuring a day of special programs, including demonstrations of hearth cooking, discussions of social history, and historical reenactment. Learn about the history and origins of this holiday celebrating the end of American chattel slavery.
The centerpiece of the day’s events is the Juneteenth Reenactment by the Freedom Players, which re-creates the enforcement of General Order No. 3 in Galveston, Texas in June 1865. This immersive theatrical performance will happen at the center of Historic Richmond Town’s main village. The dramatic presentation by the Juneteenth Freedom Players is facilitated under the direction of Dorcas Meyers, President, Roc-A-Natural Cultural Foundation Inc.
Slavery was deeply rooted in the North American continent, beginning with Dutch colonization in the 17th Century. New York State abolished slavery in 1827, while other states in the South and elsewhere maintained the practice, and along with it, systems of oppression and racism. The American Civil War (1861-1865) was fought over the divisive issue of slavery, which resulted in the Emancipation Proclamation in 1863 and the 13th Amendment to the Constitution, which abolished slavery nationally. Two years after the Emancipation Proclamation was issued, on June 19, 1865, Union troops informed the people of Galveston, Texas enslaved people were free. The jubilant celebrations of the day, known as Juneteenth, were heralded across the South and beyond, becoming a National Holiday in 2021.
FEATURES:
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Enslaved on Staten Island – Hearth cooking program at the Guyon-Lake-Tysen House
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An Island of Oystermen – Basket Making demonstration at the Basket Maker’s House
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But No Man of Colour- discussion of voter rights in New York State (Guyon Tavern)
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Jumping the Broom (Kruser-Finley House)
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Pop-up exhibition in the Historical Museum
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Craft Activities for Kids
