FORT WORTH, Texas — Fort Worth City Council on Tuesday unanimously approved land for lease and development for the planned National Juneteenth Museum.

What You Need To Know

  • Fort Worth City Council on Tuesday approved land for the planned National Juneteenth Museum

  • The city will contribute $15 million to the project and the lease is for 40 years

  • The museum will include 10,000 square feet of exhibition galleries and a 250-seat theater, among other attractions

  • Opal Lee, the "Grandmother of Juneteenth," was on hand Tuesday at City Council 

The city will lease the Southside Community Center property for construction. According to the council's resolution, ground will be broken on the museum on or before Oct. 31, 2026.

The resolution further says that Fort Worth will relocate programs currently operated from the Southside Community Center to the Hazel Harvey Peace Center for Neighborhoods.

The city will contribute $15 million to the museum and the lease is for 40 years.

Opal Lee, known as the “Grandmother of Juneteenth,” was on hand Tuesday at City Council.

According to the museum’s website, it will include 10,000 square feet of exhibition galleries, a 250-seat theater for lectures, performances and events, a flexible space for traveling exhibitions, a business incubator, a food hall and The National Juneteenth Plaza, a public courtyard and greenspace for gatherings and reflection.

“Our design for the National Juneteenth Museum is inspired by the resilience of the African American experience, transforming those stories into a space for reflection, education, and celebration,” said lead designer and partner Douglass Alligood. “The museum will serve as a bridge between the past and future, honoring history while nurturing community growth and connection.” 

Renderings of the museum are available on its official website.

Juneteenth is a federal holiday celebrated on June 19. It was on that date in 1865 when Maj. Gen. Gordon Granger ordered the final enforcement of the Emancipation Proclamation in Texas.

Lee, a former teacher and civil rights activist, is lauded for her efforts to make Juneteenth a federal holiday. Lee was awarded the Presidential Medal of Freedom in 2024.