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The Houston Freedmen’s Town Conservancy is a 501(c)(3) non-profit organization that protects and preserves the history of Freedmen’s Town for the benefit of future generations. We support community engagement, re-education, and heritage tourism. The Houston Freedmen’s Town Conservancy is a 501(c)(3) non-profit organization that protects and preserves the history of Freedmen’s Town for the benefit of future generations. We support community engagement, re-education, and heritage tourism.

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Educate Engage Protect Preserve

The Rich (Historic) Story of Freedmen’s Town

The Emancipation Proclamation freed slaves beginning January 1, 1863. However, it wasn’t until June 19, 1865, in Galveston, Texas that the last slaves were freed. General Gordon Granger and his troops arrived in Galveston, Texas and read General Order No. 3, which informed all of the enslaved people that they were now free.

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Mission Statement

To preserve the historic legacy of Freedmen’s Town inspiring all through education and awareness of its unique story.

Vision Statement

Global recognition of historic Freedmen’s Town as the heritage district that transforms our understanding of Emancipation to be the story of freedom.

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Be Apart of History

As a nation we’ve collectively tapped into the importance of history, truth, and justice over these past few years. One thing’s become abundantly clear to us:

We need connection. We are interdependent. We collaborate and work together even while we stand apart. We need one another because we are stronger together.

The Houston Freedmen’s Town Conservancy is working with the guardian’s of history in Freedmen’s Town because the ONLY way we can protect this historic community is through collective action.

Freedmen’s Town is a critical part of not only Texas’ and Houston’s history, but our nation’s history. It is crucial that «stories of freedom that transpired» in this historic place be kept alive and told to generations to come.

Just as the homes, churches, and parks built over 150 years ago by African Americans are part of this unique cultural attraction, gifts made today will be working 150 years from now-and beyond to support the rebirth and sustainability of Freedmen’s Town, Houston’s «Mother Ward».

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Thank You to Our Supporters

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Your financial support builds strength and capacity for the Houston Freedmen’s Town Conservancy to work even harder at protecting, preserving, educating and engaging!

Every gift, no matter the size, is a vote of confidence for the promise of Freedmen’s Town now and in the future. The future is bright join the wave of support!

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Keep up to date on all of our latestest news, offerings, updates and events. We have some exciting new developments in the works.

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The Houston Freedmen’s Town Conservancy is a 501(c)(3) non-profit organization that protects and preserves the history of Freedmen’s Town for the benefit of future generations. We support community engagement, re-education, and heritage tourism.

Mailing:

PO Box 22602, Houston TX 77227

Physical Address:

1300 Victor Street, Houston TX 77019

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Funding has been provided to the Houston Freedmen’s Town Conservancy from the National Endowment for the Humanities (NEH) as part of the American Rescue Plan (ARP) Act of 2021.

All opinions, findings, conclusions, or recommendations expressed in this publication do not necessarily represent those of the National Endowment for the Humanities.

Contact Information

  • info@houstonfreedmenstown.org
  • 713-366-4212

The Rich (Historic) Story of Freedmen’s Town

The Emancipation Proclamation freed slaves beginning January 1, 1863. However, it wasn’t until June 19, 1865, in Galveston, Texas that the last slaves were freed. General Gordon Granger and his troops arrived in Galveston, Texas and read General Order No. 3, which informed all of the enslaved people that they were now free. Approximately, one thousand freed people, unwelcome in post-Civil War Houston, migrated to Houston and established Freedmen’s Town in what was then referred to as the Fourth Ward. General Granger arrived in Houston on June 21, 1865, again announcing General Order 3.

Shortly after June 19, 1865, the child of Juneteenth, Freedmen’s Town, was born and settled along Buffalo Bayou. Houston’s Freedmen’s Town served as the first African American community for the last enslaved people. Eager to begin new lives in a new place as freed people, these men, women, and children from the surrounding rural areas journeyed to Houston and began creating a community. The freed people constructed homes, schools, businesses, churches, and their lives. They built, Freedmen’s Town, a world in which African Americans could prosper and thrive. And prosper they did. In 1870, the first two-story home in Black Houston was built in Freedmen’s Town by the Reverend Jack Yates, who served as the first pastor for the Antioch Missionary Baptist Church. Yates established the Houston Academy that served freed African American children. Aside from Rev. Yates, Freedmen’s Town produced many notable Houstonians, including Black physicians, ministers, jazz musicians, businessmen and women, and attorneys. Emmet J. Scott, author and personal secretary to Booker T. Washington, and elected secretary of the National Negro Business League in 1901, was born in Freedmen’s Town. He was the first person of color to serve as a reporter at the Houston Post. By 1880, Freedmen’s Town was home to 95% of Black Houstonians, marking a substantial black middle class. By the 1930s, it had produced over 400 Black-owned businesses. It is referred to as the “Mother Ward”.

In the United States, a freedmen’s town was an African American municipality or community built by freedmen, former slaves who were emancipated during and after the American Civil War. These towns emerged in a number of states, most notably in Texas on June 19, 1865, acknowledged as Juneteenth. Juneteenth is now recognized as a federal holiday commemorating the end of slavery in the United States. Also known as Emancipation Day, Juneteenth is celebrated with festivals, parades, and church services.