Texas Juneteenth Events, Genealogy Exhibit, Historic Lodge & More

It's Juneteenth Week! Along with Juneteenth pre-holiday event guides from Austin as well as Houston and Galveston, we're covering a genealogical exhibit at a Laredo library, an old family nursery in Conroe, the CCC-era Indian Lodge in Fort Davis, and a traveling Smithsonian exhibit about rural life in Bandera.

Where to celebrate Juneteenth in Houston and Galveston

Juneteenth 160 Fest at the Freedmen’s Town Conservancy Visitor’s Center features a full day of cultural programming honoring the legacy of Houston’s first free Black neighborhood. Events include yoga with Raveen Alexis, a workshop and exhibit with Poet Laureate Aris Kian Brown, and a fireside chat with Dr. Marc Lamont Hill. The day ends with a dance party by DJ collective SoulControl. Admission is free; registration is recommended for workshops. 1-8 p.m. June 19, 1204 Victor St. houstonfreedmenstown.org

U.S. Colored Troops' Call to Freedom: The three-day event by the Buffalo Soldiers National Museum will begin June 19 with an exhibition and panel discussion at the University Museum at Texas Southern University from 5:30 to 8:30 p.m. Activities continue June 20–21 at the museum from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m., featuring a living history encampment, historical demonstrations, family activities and the Roots & Resilience program with educational presentations and local vendors. The event concludes June 21 with a closing gathering at the Eldorado Ballroom from 8 to 11 p.m., including remarks by Sam Collins III. June 19-21, multiple locations, buffalosoldiersmuseum.org. READ MORE IN THE HOUSTON CHRONICLE

Celebrate Juneteenth in Central Texas with 11 family-friendly events

Juneteenth Remembrance Ceremony: 1165 Angelina Street, 2 p.m. to 4 p.m. June 19. The George Washington Carver Museum is hosting a Juneteenth remembrance ceremony to honor ancestors and come together in solidarity. Their goal is to gather in unity to mourn victims of violence in Texas and foster a safe space for communal grieving. The Carver Museum invites the public to gather in their lobby to elevate the spirit of fallen sisters, brothers and non-binary community members with song, prayer and meditation. Attendees are encouraged to wear white or bright, neutral colors. For more information on the remembrance ceremony, visit austintexas.gov.

Travis County’s Juneteenth Celebration “Still We Rise”: 800 Lavaca Street, 11 a.m. to 2 p.m. June 20. Travis County presents “Still We Rise,” their 36th annual Juneteenth celebration from 11 a.m. to 2 p.m. underneath the parking garage at 800 Lavaca St. The family-friendly celebration of freedom will include fellowship, food vendors, information booths, music and games. This year’s theme is “Still We Rise: Celebrating the Journey with Power and Purpose.” For more information and highlights from last year’s event, visit traviscountytx.gov.

Laredo genealogical exhibit invites community to explore family history

The Villa San Agustín de Laredo Genealogical Society, in partnership with the Joe A. Guerra Public Library Historical Collection, is inviting the community to its seventh Genealogical and Historical Exhibit on Saturday, June 21. Members and friends of the Villa San Agustín de Laredo Genealogical Society will display personal collections of items they plan to leave as legacies for their descendants.

Sylvia Reash, president of the Villa San Agustín de Laredo Genealogical Society, said the event fulfills the purpose of the organization, which is to promote genealogical research into the origins of Mexican American and other cultures of Laredo and the surrounding areas. READ MORE AT THE LAREDO MORNING NEWS

Carter's Florist & Nursery declared a ‘Texas Treasure’ after 57 years in Conroe

For Jessica Carter, running Carter's Florist & Nursery is a way to connect to her grandparents who, in 1968, started the Conroe business that her grandmother, Gladys, remained involved with well into her 90s.

“She loved the community, the flowers and what she did every day," said Carter, 39, who runs the business now with help from her parents "Little Dempsey" and Kay, her siblings and other family members.

The business, which has been serving the community's floral needs for 57 years, received a Texas Treasure Business Award from the Texas Historical Commission. State Rep. Will Metcalf, R-Conroe, recently presented the award to members of the Carter family. READ MORE AT THE COURIER OF MONTGOMERY COUNTY

Premier Texas State Park lodge reopens after $3.5M upgrades

A premier West Texas destination has been revived. The Indian Lodge, set within Davis Mountains State Park, is finally reopening after a $3.5 million renovation, according to the Texas Parks and Wildlife Department. The lodge reopened fully on June 1.

In the 1930s, the Indian Lodge was built by the Civilian Conservation Corps. It opened to the public in 1939, according to TPWD. A major construction project in 1967 added more rooms and amenities. The project also included renovations to the original structure. That structure has 18-inch adobe walls and hand-carved cedar furniture. It has 39 rooms, a meeting room, a swimming pool and Black Bear Restaurant. READ MORE AT MYSA.COM

Why a Smithsonian Institution exhibit is coming to a Hill Country town

A Smithsonian Institution exhibit that analyzes changes in rural America will make a stop in a small Hill Country town this summer. The exhibit, titled "Crossroads: Changes in Rural America," is scheduled to be on display in Bandera from June 21 to July 26. The exhibit is presented by the Smithsonian Institution Traveling Exhibition Service, an arm of the Washington, D.C.-based museum and research complex.

Bandera, which dubs itself the "Cowboy Capital of the World," is a town of 600 people, about 40 miles northwest of central San Antonio. The exhibit has visited six other Texas towns since it hit the road in August 2024. The exhibit will be displayed at Bandera Middle School. READ MORE AT THE SAN ANTONIO EXPRESS-NEWS