Did you know that four men from Pekin were present at the first Juneteenth on June 19, 1865 in Galveston, Texas when slavery was finally abolished? Four of Pekin’s Black Civil War heroes – William H. Costley, William H. Ashby, Marshall Ashby, and Nathan Ashby all of whom served in the 29^th U.S. Colored Infantry during and after the Civil War – were present at that time and place when General Granger read General Order #3 enacting the Emancipation Proclamation (three years after delivered by President Lincoln.) Slaves in Texas were finally freed!  Learn the history of these men and Pekin's connection to this event in the Community Room.

Concurrent Student Program (Intermediate school age): Imagine yourself in Galveston, Texas in June 1865. Once you learn of your freedom, what would you choose to do? The Story of Juneteenth provides interactive text through which participants choose their destiny once freed.  Program located in the Conference Room.

Brought to you by YWCA Coalition for Equality; Student Program facilitated by Coalition for Equality members.  Adult history program presented by Pekin Public Library Staff