Each June, Magnolia Plantation & Gardens partners with the Slave Dwelling Project to commemorate Juneteenth through a day of education, honor, and reflection called Living Legacies. We invite guests to explore the enduring legacy and resilience of the enslaved community at Magnolia through a powerful reading of the names and a performance by the Bright Family Singers.

The day features immersive experiences with living historians, including demonstrations of traditional brickmaking, open-fire cooking, blacksmithing, and sweetgrass basket weaving. These events are designed to inspire, educate, and foster a deeper understanding of our shared past. 

What is Juneteenth?

Juneteenth marks the day on June 19, 1865, when Union troops arrived in Galveston, Texas, and announced the enforcement of the Emancipation Proclamation, more than two years after it was originally issued. The news finally brought freedom to more than 250,000 people still enslaved in Texas. In 2021, Juneteenth became a federal holiday, recognized as a key milestone in American history.

Event Schedule (Subject to change): 

10:00 AM - 4:00 PM --- Living Legacies 

10:30 AM  -- Storytelling at Cabin Pavilion

11:00 AM -- Storytelling at Cabin Pavilion 

11:30 AM- Storytelling at Cabin Pavilion 

12:30 - 1:00 PM -- Bright Family Singers at Live Oak Pavilion 

1:15 PM - Reading of the names of the enslaved with memorial bell ringing 

1:45 PM -- Storytelling at Cabin Pavilion 

2:30 PM-- Storytelling at Cabin Pavilion 

3:00 PM -- Storytelling at Cabin Pavilion 

The living historians will be available from 10:00 AM - 12:15 PM and 1:45 - 4:00 PM. They include a brickmaker, cook, sweetgrass basket demonstration, and blacksmith.