Question 1: Today’s image features what building in Austin, Texas?
- State Capitol
- City Hall
- Governor’s Mansion
Answer: State Capitol
Fact: The Texas State Capitol, located in downtown Austin, was completed in 1888. Built from distinctive pink granite, it stands taller than the U.S. Capitol in Washington, D.C.
Question 2: Who brought news of emancipation to the people of Texas?
- Robert E. Lee
- Gordon Granger
- Abraham Lincoln
Answer: Gordon Granger
Fact: In June 1865, Union Major General Granger arrived on Galveston Island, Texas, with 2,000 federal troops, more than two years after the Emancipation Proclamation had been issued. Texas, being the most remote of the slave states, had been slow to receive the news—though some believe more sinister motives also contributed to the delay. Regardless, on June 19, 1865, Granger publicly read General Order No. 3, officially informing enslaved people in Texas that they were free.
Question 3: Where was Juneteenth first celebrated?
- Galveston
- New Orleans
- Washington, DC
Answer: Galveston
Fact: Juneteenth celebrations first began in Galveston, Texas, in 1866, one year after Union troops arrived and announced the emancipation of enslaved people. These early local observances laid the groundwork for the holiday’s eventual recognition as a national celebration.