It was Wednesday, June 19, when Major General Gordon Granger and his troops rode into ... of freedom that's since become ...

On June 19, 1865, General Gordon Granger rode into Galveston, Texas, and announced that enslaved people were now free. Since then, June 19 has been celebrated as Juneteenth across the country.

But even with Granger's General Order No ... get the best of The Week delivered directly to your inbox. The first Juneteenth celebration took place in Texas in 1866, with community gatherings ...

Juneteenth, also known as Emancipation Day or Freedom Day, marks the anniversary of June 19, 1865, when Major General Gordon Granger read “General Order No. 3” in Galveston, Texas, declaring ...

Emancipation Day. Freedom Day. Jubilee Day. Juneteenth is known by many names. On June 19, 1865, Maj. Gen. Gordon Granger delivered General Order No. 3 to the enslaved people and residents of ...

The day became known as Juneteenth, a word created by joining ... In April 1865, Confederate General Robert E. Lee surrendered his troops to Union General Ulysses S. Grant and, two months later ...