Church Donating $3M to Juneteenth Museum in Forth Worth, TX

[smac97]

Why The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints Is Helping to Build a Juneteenth Museum

Quote

The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints has committed $3 million to help build the National Juneteenth Museum in Fort Worth, Texas, according to a Church Newsroom release. The museum will preserve the history of emancipation, provide educational and community spaces, and include a genealogy center with experiences powered by FamilySearch.

The Church of Jesus Christ announced its support during an October 7 gathering honoring civil rights activist Dr. Opal Lee on her 100th birthday. For readers wondering what Juneteenth commemorates and why the Church supports a museum about it, the answer brings together American history, family connections, and the belief that every person is a child of God.

Very cool.  I am glad to see the Church helping with this.  If anyone is in the Forth Worth area, a report about the museum when it opens would be great.

Thanks,

-Smac

[Pyreaux]

The museum will house a dedicated genealogy center powered by FamilySearch. Tracing black slave genealogy in North America is historically difficult. FamilySearch has spent years digitizing millions of historic records including the Freedmen’s Bureau records, to help African American families discover their ancestral lines. Partnering with the museum it is hoped to expand that research effort.

[Doctor Steuss]

I wish I hadn't read the comments on the article when I saw it on Facebook.  They were incredibly disappointing (but not unpredictable).

I love and appreciate the Church's commitment to museums, and historical preservation.  I am such a huge museum and historical site tour junky.  This type of investment pays huge dividends not only providing access to interactive education, but museums are such a great resource for families/parents who are budget strapped and need an outing.