Opal Lee Celebrates Her 100th Birthday by Kicking Off Construction of Juneteenth Museum in Texas
- On Wednesday, October 7, 2026, civil rights leader Opal Lee celebrated her 100th birthday as Fort Worth began demolishing the Southside Community Center to make way for the $70 million National Juneteenth Museum.
- Planned for the Historic Southside, the facility aims to preserve Juneteenth history and revitalize the neighborhood, with organizers raising over $50 million toward the $70 million goal and needing $20 million more.
- The National Juneteenth Museum will feature a 250-seat theater, galleries, and a genealogy center, bolstered by a $3 million donation from the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints supporting the tribute to the "Grandmother of Juneteenth."
- At 6 p.m. Wednesday at the Fort Worth Convention Center, Former First Lady Michelle Obama will headline the museum's Uniting Voices Speaker Series, hosting "A Conversation with Michelle Obama" to honor Lee's centennial.
- Construction of the facility is expected to begin in late 2026 or early 2027, as Lee believes "there's so much else that needs to be done" beyond securing Juneteenth's federal recognition.
24 Articles
24 Articles
Opal Lee celebrates her 100th birthday by kicking off construction of Juneteenth museum in Texas – WTOP News
FORT WORTH, Texas (AP) — Opal Lee celebrated her 100th birthday Wednesday by kicking off the start of construction of a museum in her Texas hometown dedicated to telling the history of Juneteenth, the holiday commemorating the end of slavery in the U.S. “It was important for us to do this on this date because...
Opal Lee, ‘grandmother of Juneteenth,’ spends 100th birthday at the center of celebrations in Texas
FORT WORTH, Texas (AP) — Opal Lee, the lifelong Texan and a driving force in making Juneteenth a federal holiday, spent her 100th birthday on Wednesday at the center of celebrations in her hometown that included a scheduled visit by…
Opal Lee celebrates her 100th birthday by kicking off construction of
FORT WORTH, Texas (AP) — Opal Lee celebrated her 100th birthday Wednesday by kicking off the start of construction of a museum in her Texas hometown dedicated to telling the history of Juneteenth , the holiday commemorating
Opal Lee celebrates 100th birthday by kicking off construction of Juneteenth museum
Opal Lee celebrated her 100th birthday by kicking off the start of construction of a museum in her Texas hometown dedicated to telling the history of Juneteenth, the holiday commemorating the end of slavery in the U.S. Lee became known as the “grandmot...
Winnipeg Free Press
Opal Lee celebrates her 100th birthday by kicking off construction of Juneteenth museum in Texas
FORT WORTH, Texas (AP) — Opal Lee celebrated her 100th birthday Wednesday by kicking off the start of construction of a museum in her Texas hometown dedicated to telling the history of Juneteenth, the holiday commemorating the end of slavery in the U.S.
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