Although the Emancipation Proclamation was issued

in 1863, slavery continued in Texas until

June 19, 1865, when word reached Galveston, Texas

that all slaves in Texas were free. One third of

the people in Texas were slaves at that time.

Juneteenth was celebrated annually with picnics

and barbecues at public emancipation grounds,

some of which are used to this day. Juneteenth

became a legal state holiday in 1980.