June19: Dallas Historical Society Commemorates Juneteenth by Displaying An Original Official Juneteenth General Order No. 3 and a Panel Discussion
(Featured image: Official Juneteenth General Order No. 3 original notice.)
The Dallas Historical Society announces its plan to honor Juneteenth all summer long, by publicly presenting from its permanent collection an original of the official Juneteenth General Order No. 3, starting on Juneteenth. While the original executive order resides in the U.S. national archives, the Dallas Historical Society’s General Order No. 3 is the only remaining copy of those hand-delivered to Texas in 1865 to declare that enslaved people were free.
The historic General Order No. 3 that forever altered the course of American history will be displayed as an integral part of an immersive, rotating exhibition this summer called “Juneteenth: A Celebration of Freedom.”
To further commemorate Juneteenth, the Dallas Historical Society will host “Juneteenth: A Dialogue on Change and Community,” a free-with-reservation panel discussion from 6:30-8:00 p.m. on June 19, 2025 at the Hall of State (3939 Grand Ave., Dallas, TX in Fair Park.)
The panel discussion will be moderated by Levi Davis, Dallas’ first African American Assistant City Manager, and will feature renowned scholar and historian Dr. Marvin Dulaney and civil rights icon Reverend Peter Johnson as panelists. Together, the three will share personal stories, historical insights, and reflections on the meaning of Juneteenth, the long road to freedom, progress, and the work that remains to build a more just and inclusive future.
A separately ticketed “Pour Yourself Into History” happy hour from 5:30 to 6:30 p.m. offers a first look at the Juneteenth document and exhibition, meet-and-greet with the panelists, and a light reception before the panel. Individual tickets are $30. Register in advance for the free panel discussion or purchase happy hour tickets at http://weblink.donorperfect.com/juneteenthlecture2507 and visit the calendar page here: https://www.dallashistory.org/event/2025-juneteenth/
The original Juneteenth General Order No. 3 document was bequeathed to the Dallas Historical Society by G.B. Dealey, who moved to Dallas in 1885 to establish and lead The Dallas Morning News.
“The ‘Juneteenth: A Celebration of Freedom’ exhibition, featuring the official Juneteenth General Order No. 3, explores the historic origins of Juneteenth and the lasting impact of this Texas-born tradition, which has come to resonate across the nation,” says Karl Chiao, Dallas Historical Society Executive Director. “While the exhibition is presented by the Dallas Historical Society, we are proud to partner with our Fair Park neighbor, The African American Museum, on the Juneteenth celebration and accompanying public program to remember and honor this important holiday.”
“Juneteenth: A Celebration of Freedom” will be stationed in the Hall of State and feature two powerful components: the “Historical Track,” which includes firsthand accounts of emancipation shared by formerly enslaved individuals, and the “Celebration Track,” which invites visitors to reflect on Juneteenth by recording their own stories and sentiments.
The exhibition opens with the Dallas Historical Society’s Juneteenth events and closes on the last day of the State Fair of Texas, following Hall of State’s hours of operation.
About Dallas Historical Society
Established in 1922, the Dallas Historical Society is the preeminent organization of its kind in Dallas, collecting, preserving, and exhibiting the heritage of Dallas and Texas to educate and inspire future generations. Housed at the Hall of State in Fair Park since 1938, the Society presents these collections through education programs, exhibitions, tours, access to research materials and workshops. Each year, the Dallas Historical Society is visited by more than 160,000 people and serves more than 20,000 students through guided tours and educational programming at the Hall of State, as well as outreach programs at school locations. More information is available at https://www.dallashistory.org/.
About Hall of State
Built by the State of Texas for the 1936 Centennial Exposition in Fair Park, the Hall of State has hosted events honoring presidents, royalty, heads of state, and other dignitaries for over eighty years. Located just minutes from downtown Dallas, the Hall of State can be rented for private functions ranging from corporate dinners or meetings to weddings or gala social events. Rental fees support the operations of the Dallas Historical Society, which calls the Hall of State “home.”
Photos by Thomas Garza.
(Sharon Adams, Adams Communications Public Relations, is honored to work with the Dallas Historical Society on this event and post this Philanthropy Lifestyles eBuzz.)
