CLOSED for Juneteenth
Date/Time
Date(s) - Jun 19, 2026
12:00 am
Location
Mt. Sterling Public Library
Category(ies)
Juneteenth, also known as Emancipation Day or Juneteenth Independence Day, is observed annually on June 19th. It is a federal holiday in the United States, commemorating the end of slavery in the country.
Historical Significance:
- Juneteenth marks the day when Union troops arrived in Galveston, Texas, on June 19, 1865, and announced the end of slavery in the state.
- This occurred roughly two and a half years after President Abraham Lincoln had issued the Emancipation Proclamation on January 1, 1863, which declared enslaved people in Confederate states free.
- Despite the Emancipation Proclamation, slavery persisted in Texas until the arrival of federal troops, making Juneteenth a pivotal moment for the over 250,000 enslaved individuals in the state.
