Celebrate Juneteenth in Houston with these inspirational, fun-filled events! #Juneteenth #FreedomDay #EmancipationDay

As the church continues to be a pillar within the Black community, those in Galveston are gearing up to celebrate the Juneteenth holiday with Grammy-Award winning gospel artist Fred Hammond.

The Freedom Walk trail in Galveston retraces the footsteps of Major General Gordon Granger and the 2000 federal soldiers who arrived in Galveston on June 19, 1865, to announce that those enslaved were free. This day would become, what we now know as, Juneteenth. If you would like to walk the Freedom Trail, there is an app for that! Download it at Visit.Galevston.com

Historian Sam Collins shares the history of Juneteenth and the journey to freedom in Galveston with Courtney and Derrick

Juneteenth, also known as Freedom Day or Emancipation Day, symbolizes the end of slavery in America.

General Order Number 3 was issued by Union General Gordon Granger on June 19, 1865, in Galveston, Texas, two years after the original issuance of the Emancipation Proclamation.

Here’s a look at some of the key Houston historical anniversaries coming up during this particular calendar year.

It was a joyful celebration in Galveston on Saturday.

Houston Newsmaker: Learning the history of Juneteenth, the Sugar Land 95 and FBI Diversity

The United States government is catching up with Black people who have been commemorating the end of slavery in the United States for generations with a day called “Juneteenth.”.

Galveston is rich with history and culture, boasting many historic sites and landmarks, including several historical homes that offer insight into the island’s past. It was then that The Galveston Historical Foundation purchased the home to stabilize the property and secure it a new owner. Through a partnership with The Galveston Historical Foundation, the house operates as a museum and event venue. (galvestonhistory.org)Ashton Villa was not only the first mansion built on Broadway Boulevard, it was the first mansion built on the island and one of the first brick residences in Galveston, according to Galveston.com. The Moody Mansion is available for public tours daily from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m.2618 Broadway Avenue J, (409) 762-7668; moodymansion.org

(CNN) -- In honor of Juneteenth, companies have given employees paid leave in celebration, Virginia Gov. Ralph Northam is pushing to make it a paid state holiday and there seems to be more awareness around the holiday than ever before. Now, Google is also jumping in, commemorating the 155th anniversary of June 19 -- largely celebrated as the end of slavery in the US -- with a video Google Doodle. Set to the first verse of "Lift Every Voice and Sing," also called the Black national anthem, the video begins with General Order No. A blend of the words June and nineteenth, Juneteenth is the oldest known US celebration of the end of slavery.

GALVESTON, Texas – Friday will be the 155th anniversary of Juneteenth. Two and half years after President Abraham Lincoln signed the Emancipation Proclamation freeing all people from slavery, the news finally reached Texas. Juneteenth commemorates the significant day. All around Galveston you can find historical markers that detail that important date in history. Jones said that historians know of three significant locations where the proclamation was read by Union General Gordon Granger.

Usher is using his platform to talk about the importance of Juneteenth, specifically, why it should be recognized as an official national holiday. In an op-ed for The Washington Post published on Friday, Usher advocates to make Juneteenth a federal holiday. "Recognizing Juneteenth as a national holiday would be a small gesture compared with the greater social needs of black people in America. On Friday, Usher urged his followers on Twitter to sign a Change.org petition to make Juneteenth a national holiday. Make Juneteenth A National Holiday!

GALVESTON, Texas The Galveston Historical Foundation, Galveston Island and UTMB Health will host a Facebook Live of the 41st annual Al Edwards Juneteenth Celebration from 10 a.m. to noon. The celebration includes a reading of General Orders No. 3., which was originally read by Union General Gordon Granger at Ashton Villa on June 19, 1865. The orders informed Galveston of the Emancipation Proclamation, more than two years after the proclamation was signed by President Abraham Lincoln. The celebration is named after Edwards, a member of the Texas House who was the author of the 1979 bill that made Juneteenth a paid holiday in the state.

According to the Texas State Historical Association, this became part of the calendar of public events by 1872 under the direction of the Freedmen’s Bureau. Jack Yates along with a few other community members, who were also former slaves, united to raise $1,000 to purchase ten acres of parkland to host Juneteenth celebrations. However, the magnitude of Juneteenth celebrations declined through the years due to economic and cultural forces. During the 1970’s late Houston Democrat Rep. Al Edwards introduced a bill calling for Juneteenth to become state holiday. Related: Juneteenth celebrations around the country mark the day enslaved Texans were finally told they are free 155 years agoToday Juneteenth celebrations spread all across the country.

The June 19 holiday commemorates the end of slavery in the United States. Forty-seven states and the District of Columbia mark June 19 as a state holiday or observance. But -- despite a push by activists over the years -- Juneteenth still isn't a federal holiday. Here's what to know about Juneteenth. Juneteenth has been celebrated informally since 1865, but Texas became the first state to make it a state holiday in 1980.

Although slavery was already abolished more than two years earlier by the Emancipation Proclamation, it continued in some areas. Some businesses have professed support for the Black Lives Matter movement or pledged to donate money to organizations. Others have promised to hire more black workers or make other policy changes. This week, Nike CEO John Donahoe told workers they would get Juneteenth off starting this year as a way to celebrate black culture and history. The power of this historical feat in our countrys blemished history is felt each year," Goodell wrote in a memo.

From the balcony of Ashton Villa where slaves were declared free to the preserved Yates house in Freedman’s Town, there is a rich history in Houston.