Register now for the Juneteenth celebration at Atlanta History Center on June 15, 2024
Juneteenth is a celebration marking the end of enslavement in the United States.
Join us on June 15 as we celebrate Black culinary history and America's pastime, baseball. Through on-campus events, cooking demonstrations, museum theater, and exhibitions, including More Than Brave: The Life of Henry Aaron and Barbecue Nation, we highlight Juneteenth's legacy and underscore the joyous union of food, family, and community.
On June 19, 1865, a group of Union troops stopped in Galveston, Texas, to inform enslaved people that the Civil War was over, the Confederacy was defeated, and enslaved people in Texas were free. Though Abraham Lincoln issued the Emancipation Proclamation on January 1, 1863, many slaveholders refused to comply. A full two and a half years after the Emancipation Proclamation and two months after Union troops seized Richmond, the capital of the Confederate States of America, the last enslaved African Americans in Texas were declared free people. That momentous date in 1865 was proclaimed Juneteenth and has been celebrated annually since then.
Today, Juneteenth serves as a holiday to reflect on our nation’s history, commemorate emancipation, and look towards the future impact of Black culture and community. In 2021, President Joe Biden signed the Juneteenth National Independence Day Act into law, making Juneteenth a federal holiday.
Join us for an interactive tasting inspired by “Watermelon & Red Birds Cookbook: A Cookbook for Juneteenth and Black Celebration” by James Beard Award nominee Nicole A. Taylor.
Learn MoreFor Juneteenth, our partners at Birds Georgia is leading a bird walk through the Atlanta History Center's 33-acre birding hotspot. Join members of Birds Georgia for a special walk through Goizueta Gardens.
Learn MorePlan Your Day
| Activity | Description | Time | Location | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Timed Activities Note: Refer to Upper and Lower Swan Lawn for additional timed activities | Freedom Flavors: Aleck’s Legacy Museum Theater | Set against the backdrop of the iconic Aleck’s Barbecue Heaven in Atlanta, Freedom Flavors: Aleck’s Legacy is a museum-theater experience that transports audiences to a time when barbecue served as a beacon of freedom and community. | 10:30am, 11:30am, 12:30pm, 1:30pm, 2pm | Gatheround Exhibit |
| Folktales and Interactive Storytelling with Mama Koku | All ages are encouraged to indulge their imaginations and nurture their spirits as Mama Koku brings to life African and African American folktales through captivating performances. | 11:30am, 12:30pm, 1:30pm | Museum Terraces | |
| Gardens Tour | Join Atlanta History Center’s Urban Agriculturalist for a tour of the Enslaved People’s Garden. Learn about garden design, the history of the crops that made up the foodways of enslaved communities, and how these gardens were used as a form of resistance. | 11am, 12pm, 1pm | Smith Farm | |
| Fruits of Our Labor Register Here Note: This is an outdoor experience and pre-paid, ticketed event | James Beard Award-nominated food writer, home chef, and producer, Nicole Taylor, will provide a pre-paid interactive tasting inspired by her cookbook, Watermelon & Red Birds: A Cookbook for Juneteenth and Black Celebration, through meals and drinks that carry the patina of endurance. | 11am–12pm & 1–2pm | Swan House Boxwood Gardens | |
| Archives Open House | Be inspired by America's favorite pastime, African American food culture and gardening traditions, and the Veterans History Project through guided explorations led by Kenan Research Center. Hear veteran voices, see rare photographs of Negro League baseball in Atlanta, browse historic and new cookbooks, and an array of gardening volumes, from foraging and flowers to landscape design and vegetables to highlight Georgia’s historical legacies. | 11am, 12pm, 1pm | Kenan Research Center (McElreath Hall) | |
| Medicine in the Garden | Join Atlanta History Center’s Certified Herbalist and Senior Horticulturist to learn about the rich cultural history of African American herbal medicine, modern uses of cultivated and foraged herbs, and watch demonstrations of herbal tea preparations including peppermint, lemon balm, and others. | 1pm, 2pm, 3pm | Wood Cabin | |
| Ongoing Activities Note: Refer to Upper and Lower Swan Lawn for additional ongoing activities | Juneteenth Introduction Video | Ground yourself in the day’s celebrations as you discover the journey of the Black diaspora through the lens of food and family. | 10am–2pm | Kennedy Theater |
| Civic Season Booth | Discover the activist in you by participating in our Civic Season, celebrated from Juneteenth to July 4th by communities across the country. Vote on popular variations of beloved meals, record memorable experiences surrounding food, and learn about the origins of Black culinary heritage. | 10am–2pm | Gatheround Exhibit (Will move to Lower Swan Lawn at 2pm) | |
| Signature Seasonings | Whether you like it sweet, savory, or spicy, engage your culinary senses by creating a dry rub while learning its use in enhancing smoked meats and the art of barbecue. | 10am–2pm | Atrium | |
| Barbecue Nation Exhibition | Visit Barbecue Nation, an exhibit that explores the history of barbecue and how this cooking technique inspires cuisines both on and off the grill. | 10am–2pm | Rountree Visual Vault | |
| Community Outreach | Volunteers from the Nu Lambda Omega Chapter of Alpha Kappa Alpha Sorority, INC., will be giving away free children’s books covering various Black history topics. | 10am–2pm | Exhibition Hallway (Will move to Lower Swan Lawn at 2pm) | |
| More Than Brave: The Life of Henry Aaron Exhibition | Step into More Than Brave, an exhibit that uncovers the story of Henry Aaron and his life as a leader in baseball, business, and charitable causes. | 10am–2pm | Nicholson Gallery | |
| Quilting-up Cuisines | Learn from Brown Sugar Stitchers Quilt Guild as they share African American culture through quilting, a longstanding tradition in the Black community. Guests will have the opportunity to participate in make-and-take quilt pieces. | 10am–2pm | Grand Overlook Ballroom | |
| Food from the Soil | Journey through the origins of agriculture. Observe harvesting, cooking, and even preserving to learn how food impacts our daily lives and how it is used in northern Georgia. | 11am–3:30pm | Smith Farm | |
| Audioscape | This unique experience invites visitors to discover the profound connection between African Americans and the land, showcasing how they ingeniously used nature for survival and prosperity. | 12–3pm | Boardwalk in Goizueta Gardens | |
| Upper Swan Lawn Activities (Front Door Side of Swan House and Swan Driveway) | Kids Activities | Head to the lawn to enjoy a variety of activities including an obstacle course, Swan House baseball scavenger hunt, and field games! | l11am–3pm | Upper Swan Lawn |
| Backyard Baseball | Batter up! Join former Chicago Cubs player and youth baseball coach C.J. Stewart from L.E.A.D. Center for Youth for a baseball fundamentals workshop for children ages 5-12. Test your skills and see if you have what it takes to join the major leagues. | 12:15pm, 1:15pm, 2:15pm | Upper Swan Lawn | |
| Lower Swan Lawn Activities (Fountain Side of Swan House) | DJ | Join us on the lawn for line dancing, musical chairs, and trivia as DJ Bad keeps us moving to the music! | 11:30am–3pm | Lower Swan Lawn |
| Lawn Games | Get outside and play Double Dutch, giant Jenga, Connect 4, and other lawn games. Also, kids can try their skills at an inflatable baseball experience. | 12–4pm | Lower Swan Lawn | |
| Facepainting | Facepainting by India will entertain you with unique creations. | 12–4pm | Lower Swan Lawn | |
| Yoga with DeKeely Atkins | Join DeKeely of Form Yoga for a restorative stretching session on Swan Lawn. A limited number of blankets will be available; otherwise, bring your own mat or enjoy going barefoot in the grass. | 1:20–1:40pm | Lower Swan Lawn | |
| Black National Anthem | Join us for a vocal performance of the Black National Anthem, “Lift Every Voice and Sing” performed by Maiesha McQueen. In 1900, this poetic hymn was written and composed by brothers James Weldon Johnson and John Rosamond Johnson, both NAACP activists, as a celebration of the past, present, and future Black experience. | 2pm | Lower Swan Lawn | |
| Southern Komfort Brass Band | Southern Komfort Brass Band will close out the event with music that will make you want to move your feet. | 3–4pm | Lower Swan Lawn | |
| Food & Drink | Food Truck Park | Choose your favorite delicious Southern bite from an assortment of barbeque, desserts, and more! Meal items are available for purchase while supplies last. | 11am–3:30pm | Swan House Parking Lot (Across from McElreath Hall) |
| Bar | Alcoholic and non-alcoholic beverages are available for purchase, including a signature Red Drink. | 11am–4pm | Lower Swan Lawn | |
| Hospitality | Water Stations | All Day | Museum Terraces, Smith Farm, and Swan House | |
| First Aid | All Day | Swan House Lawn and Exhibition Hall | ||
| Nursing Room | A private room for nursing parents, located near the sensory-friendly space and additional restrooms. | All Day | Classrooms (enter through Gatheround exhibition) | |
| Sensory Friendly Room | Indoor A quiet place with kids’ books and sensory toys, along with restroom access. Outdoor Quiet places in our gardens for kids to enjoy the outdoors in a tranquil environment. | All Day | Indoor Classrooms (Enter through Gatheround exhibition) Outdoor Olguita’s Garden and Asian Garden | |
| Information Desk | All Day | Atlanta History Museum front desk |
2024. Vendors.
2024. Presenting Sponsor.
2024. Additional Support.
Juneteenth is part of Atlanta History Center’s celebration of the Civic Season, a nationwide initiative encouraging historically-informed civic participation through a two-week activation between Juneteenth and July 4th.
Learn MoreAmerican barbecue's origins are deeply rooted in Black and Indigenous American culinary traditions. Indigenous peoples used open fire pits for cooking for over 10,000 years, and the term "barbecue" evolved from the Taino and West African words "brabacot" and "babbake."
Learn more2023. Look Back.
Related. Stories.
-
The Lost Friends Database compiles ads from the Southwestern Christian Advocate newspaper, where African Americans searched for family members separated by the domestic slave trade. Including ads referencing Atlanta, this database highlights the city’s role in this period. These ads provide a poignant glimpse into personal stories of separation and efforts to reconnect families.
-
Explore the rich heritage of African American cuisine, from the enduring traditions of West African dishes to the culinary innovations of enslaved chefs like James Hemings. Learn how iconic foods like cala, macaroni and cheese, and bean pie symbolize resilience, cultural preservation, and the profound impact of Black chefs on American culinary history, celebrated through generations.
-
Juneteenth is a celebration of the end to slavery in the U.S. Lincoln issued the Emancipation Proclamation on Jan. 1, 1863, but few people were immediately freed.
-
Though the story of the Atlanta Crackers is well-known, for years, the story of the Atlanta Black Crackers was largely untold.
-
For more than fifty years, Ethel Mae Matthews worked tirelessly for greater welfare rights for Atlanta’s poor and disabled.
-
For more than 150 years, unwavering young activists have taken up the torch and blazed their own trail through history.
-
In 1962, Mayor Ivan Allen, Jr. ordered the construction of a barricade served to sever the main line connecting the white and Black sections of the Cascade Heights neighborhood.
-
Black soldiers have served this country since the Revolutionary War and their stories are vital in creating a more complete, more accurate picture of America’s past.
-
In August 2020, we commemorate the passage of the Nineteenth Amendment which guaranteed American women the right to vote. However, this was not an inclusive victory.
-
After engaging in over 60 years of activism and service to the Atlanta community, prominent Civil Rights leader and Congressman John Lewis has died.
Browse a sample of photographs reflecting the rich stories of Atlanta’s historically Black colleges and universities, the Civil Rights Movement, and those of African American educators, entertainers, and athletes.
View nowAtlanta History Center is home to one of the nation’s most comprehensive collections of Civil War memorabilia including a growing number of rare USCT objects. Explore highlights of the collection through a series of videos.
Watch nowDavid Drake was an enslaved potter in South Carolina. His jars are unique not only for their craftsmanship, but because Drake often etched lines of poetry into the clay while it was still wet.
Learn moreWe invite you to meet Black Atlantans who made history as educators, artists, legislators, soldiers, and more. This virtual tour offers the full content of the exhibition at Atlanta History Center, and was created by New-York Historical Society.
Explore moreExperience Sweet Auburn
Celebrate Juneteenth and African American resilience and ingenuity by taking a walking tour of “Sweet Auburn,” a neighborhood that John Wesley Dobbs once called the “richest Negro street in the world.” While at the time, Dobbs was referring to the financial influence of the area, today, as a birthplace of the modern Civil Rights movement, the area is replete with historical significance. This tour was co-curated by Historic Atlanta and Atlanta History Center in 2021.
Family. Focused.
Juneteenth offers families an opportunity to talk about freedom and the experiences of African-Americans in the United States—and reading is a great way to explore these topics.
Educational. Activities.
Super Spies uses hand-drawn illustrations, historical photographs, and fantastic storytelling to explore the untold history of Harriet Tubman, Elizabeth Van Lew, and Mary Bowser during the American Civil War.
-
Become a spy just like Harriet Tubman, Elizabeth Van Lew, and Mary Bowser using this cypher to decode the secret message!
-
Explore some of the major battles the United States Colored Troops were engaged in during the American Civil War with our interactive map
-
Discover more history as you explore the 127th United States Colored Troops flag and learn more about the artist behind the banner with this interactive artifact exploration!
Enslaved people in the United States resisted the institution of slavery and asserted their humanity and their personhood in many different ways. From running away, organizing uprisings and directly fighting back, as well as clinging to and sharing African traditions which were at constant risk of erasure. One of the many forms of resistance was joining the United States' cause during the Civil War and serving the cause as spies, nurses, and soldiers.
We are excited to bring to you three such stories of Black self-liberation during the American Civil War. History comes to life in these unique lessons created by our Education team in 2020. From brave covert women spies embedded in the Confederacy to the courageous men who fought in the United States Colored Troops—there is sure to be something for everyone in the family to explore.
Lift Every Voice. Playlist.
Clap your hands, stomp your feet, and lift your voice in celebration of triumph, emancipation, and history with these inspirational tunes.
Genealogy. Presentation.
Emma Davis-Hamilton discusses the Freedmen's Bureau in this pre-recorded genealogy presentation. The records of the Freedmen’s Bureau are a rich resource for documenting African American life in the post-Civil War and Reconstruction eras.
Explore. More.
-
Atlanta History Center is using our resources to explore the history of the components that make a healthy democratic system, including methods of civic engagement, widespread and informed voter participation, civil rights, and community leadership.
-
Hundreds of history and civics organizations are coming together to build something together: Made By Us, an initiative to inspire, inform and empower Millennials and Gen Z as they shape our country’s future.
-
Honoring the life and legacy of Atlanta’s most well-known civil rights leader.