City of Fort Worth pledges up to $15 million for Juneteenth Museum in Southside
Fort Worth is pledging up to $15 million to help fund the National Juneteenth Museum.
The 50,000-square-foot museum will be in Fort Worth’s Historic Southside neighborhood at Evans Avenue and East Rosedale Street. It will house exhibits, events and discussions, as well as a restaurant and amphitheater.
Developer Sable Brands must raise $70 million before the city makes its contribution.
The City Council on Tuesday unanimously pledged to contribute up to $15 million toward the project after the museum raises the money it needs. The city funds will help ensure the museum reaches its goal.
Council member Chris Nettles called it a “state of the art” facility before applauding Fort Worth’s Opal Lee, who attended Tuesday’s meeting. Her 1,400-mile walk to raise awareness led to President Joe Biden making Juneteenth a federal holiday in June 2021.
Jarred Howard, an executive with the museum developer, has said the National Juneteenth Museum will be the city’s center of Black culture. A food hall will focus on culturally Black cuisine, while a business incubator will promote entrepreneurship.
Construction is expected to begin sometime in 2023 and the museum will open June 19, 2025.
This story was originally published September 14, 2022 at 12:15 PM.
