Released May 26, 2021
Indiana State Museum, Eiteljorg, White River State Park Celebrate Juneteenth
The Indiana State Museum and Historic Sites, in partnership with the Eiteljorg Museum of American Indians and Western Art and White River State Park, will celebrate Juneteenth on June 5, 2021, with poetry, music, art, family-friendly activities, food trucks and free admission.
The state museum’s lineup for the day features:
10 a.m. to noon: Boxx the Artist: Live painting
10:30 a.m.: Spoken Word: Januarie York
10:30 a.m.-2 p.m.: Collaborative mural project
1 p.m.: Performance: Storyteller’s Drum
In addition, the state museum will be screening the video “Journey In Search of Justice,” about the struggle for equality in America, and the museum’s video on the history of the Emancipation Proclamation and 13th Amendment.
Reservations are not required at the Indiana State Museum and Historic Sites, but capacity at the museum will be limited to 300 general-admission tickets in three timeslots – 10 a.m. to 12:30 p.m., 12:30-2:30 p.m. and 3-5 p.m. – plus another 50-100 tickets for members. In addition, all historic sites will be open and free, except for New Harmony State Historic Site.
The Eiteljorg schedule features:
11 a.m. Welcome – Tammy L. Cooper
11:30 a.m. Freetown Village Singers
12:45 p.m. Teresa Stewart poetry reading
1:30 p.m. Rob Dixon Quartet
Performances will also be live streamed.
The Eiteljorg is encouraging reservations. Tickets can be reserved at Eiteljorg.org/Juneteenth. To offer more opportunities to celebrate the holiday, additional content and activities will also be available at that website on June 19.
White River State Park has arranged for Chef Dan’s, Off the Hook Fish, and Comida food trucks to be situated on the circle drive between the two museums.
Juneteenth (also called Freedom Day or Jubilee Day) is a celebration to commemorate the end of slavery in the United States. The Emancipation Proclamation granted freedom to the enslaved Jan. 1, 1863, but slaves in Texas would not learn of this until June 19, 1865 – Juneteenth. It is typically celebrated on the anniversary date of the June 19, 1865, announcement by Union Army Gen. Gordon Granger, proclaiming freedom from slavery in Texas.
In collaboration with community partners, we celebrate Juneteenth on the first Saturday of June to give the holiday the focus and attention it deserves and not divert attention away from another local grassroots community festival called Indy Juneteenth, which is held at Riverside Park the Saturday closest to June 19.
The goal is to celebrate diversity, educate the public about the Juneteenth holiday, build interest through partnerships with community and grass-roots organizations, and eventually to be a part of a citywide Juneteenth holiday celebration.
About the Eiteljorg Museum
A cultural pillar for 32 years in downtown Indianapolis’ scenic White River State Park, the Eiteljorg Museum seeks to inspire an appreciation and understanding of the arts, histories and cultures of the Indigenous peoples of North America and of the American West by telling amazing stories. Located on the Central Canal at 500 West Washington St., the Eiteljorg is a 501c3 nonprofit organization. It was named one of the USA Today Readers’ Choice 10 Best Indiana Attractions.
