National Juneteenth Museum
Bank of America announced on Tuesday that it was awarding a $1 million grant toward the development of the National Juneteenth Museum in Fort Worth.
The news comes just a few weeks after the Texas Legislature approved an additional $1 million to the construction of the cultural museum in south Fort Worth. Nearly a year ago, the city of Fort Worth procured $15 million to help add to the museum’s estimated $70 million price tag, which is expected to open to the public on Juneteenth 2025.
“The National Juneteenth Museum will be a social and economic anchor in Fort Worth that will serve as a catalyst for community education and growth,” said Bank of America Fort Worth president Mike Pavell in a statement. “The bank’s grant support acknowledges the significant role Juneteenth plays in our city’s history and is another demonstration of our commitment to advancing economic opportunity and racial equality. We’re excited to work with the National Juneteenth Museum to revitalize the local community and create a new legacy institution.”
Demolition on the site in the 1100 block of East Rosedale and Evans Avenue began in March. Fire consumed the house where the first museum resided. Nothing of historical significance was lost in the fire.
The new museum will be the epicenter for the preservation of Juneteenth history and a center for discussions about freedom.
This 50,000 square-foot space will house:
- 10,000 square feet of immersive exhibit galleries
- 250-seat theater to host lectures, speaker series, performances and more
- Black Box flexible space for traveling exhibits, seminars, corporate and community events
- Business incubator to resource emerging businesses and co-working space for local entrepreneurs
- Food hall featuring local chefs, vendors and emerging entrepreneurs highlighting culturally diverse cuisine
- National Juneteenth Plaza, public courtyard, and greenspace
President Joe Biden signed into law the Juneteenth National Independence Day Act in 2022, marking the fulfillment of Opal Lee’s lifelong cause of making Juneteenth a federal holiday.
Lee was in attendance at the bill signing. She had a private moment before the ceremony with Biden. “He was delightful,” she recalled last year. “It was humbling. I was delighted. I wanted to do a holy dance.”
Biden was the third president Lee has met. She met Lyndon B. Johnson during his administration and Barack Obama during his.
Juneteenth commemorates the day in 1865 when Union Maj. Gen. Gordon Granger issued General Order No. 3 in Galveston, announcing the emancipation of slaves in Texas. The date was 2 ½ years after Lincoln’s Emancipation Proclamation. Juneteenth has been a Texas state holiday since 1980.
“The predominantly African American neighborhood surrounding the museum has helped shape Fort Worth for generations. I’m encouraged to see Bank of America helping breathe life into the Historic Southside through intentional investment in cultural education and preservation,” said Jarred Howard, CEO of the National Juneteenth Museum. “Residents, visitors and local businesses will be able to witness the impact of Bank of America’s gift, supporting a space where generational wealth, health and tradition will have a collaborative space to flourish.”