The US Federal holiday known as Juneteenth is the oldest commemoration of the end of slavery in the United States. Recognized as Emancipation Day, or Jubilee Day,  among African Americans, it marks the anniversary of the official freeing of slaves in Texas upon the arrival of the Union army on June 19, 1865, in Galveston. Just as the Fourth of July celebrates liberty for all American people, for descendants of former slaves, Juneteenth symbolizes the attainment of freedom.  Honoring the legacy of struggle and perseverance on the part of African Americans throughout their enslavement, Juneteenth also serves as a day of reflection on African American progress.

• Juneteenth Exhibit from The National Museum of African American History & Culture | Smithsonian Institute

  Check out this virtual exhibit about the "Taste, Sound, and Experience of an African American Celebration."
• The Historical Legacy of Juneteenth

  National Museum of African American History & Culture | Smithsonian Institute