Juneteenth

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​June 19, 2026  |  10:00am-4:00pm
Juneteenth, also known as "Freedom Day," marks the end of slavery in the United States. Although the Emancipation Proclamation had declared “all persons held as slaves” would be “forever free” on January 1, 1863, it wasn’t until U.S. Major General Gordon Granger read General Order #3 at Ashton Villa in Galveston, Texas on June 19, 1865, that the last enslaved people in America were finally set free. Juneteenth, a combination of “June” and “nineteenth,” commemorates that day.  

In 1860 Marietta had a population of approximately 2,600. At the time, Marietta's slave population was 1,175, meaning that almost 45% of Marietta’s total population was enslaved. The same census shows that there were four enslaved people at the William Root House property: two men and two women, ages 35 to 73. Carefully restored to its 1850s appearance, the Root House now operates as a museum interpreting daily life for the Root family and their enslaved house servants. Rather than the plantation system, the museum provides visitors with a rare look at how slavery operated within an urban environment.

On June 19th, the Root House will commemorate "Freedom Day" with special Juneteenth programming and free museum admission. The event will run from 10am to 4pm with scheduled activities throughout the day. Offerings include guided museum tours, storytime, crafts, cooking demonstrations, and more. We are pleased offer FREE museum  admission during this event. 

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