Booker T. Washington Emancipation Proclamation Park
Also known as: Juneteenth Grounds
Why it's listed
Booker T. Washington Emancipation Proclamation Park, also called the Juneteenth Grounds, covers thirty acres of wooded land on the west side of Lake Mexia, nine miles west of Mexia, Texas. Its two frame buildings are a raised speaker's pavilion from about 1915 and a dance pavilion on pilings from about 1950. Local Black residents began gathering each June 19 after the Emancipation Proclamation was read on a nearby plantation in 1865. In 1898, under T. K. Wagner, they formed the Limestone County Nineteenth of June Organization and bought ten acres on the Navasota River, adding twenty more in 1900. The park was later named for educator Booker T. Washington. Speakers such as Ralph Long addressed crowds there, and attendance has reached 20,000. The grounds remain a community park and the setting for the annual Juneteenth celebration, standing as a tangible symbol of emancipation for Limestone County.
Significance in brief: The park is argued to be a tangible symbol of Black Americans' attainment of freedom from slavery for the people of Limestone County. It was bought in 1898 by the Limestone County Nineteenth of June Organization to mark the 1865 reading of the Emancipation Proclamation to local slaves. The gatherings drew local Black leaders and as many as 20,000 people, and the park still hosts the annual Juneteenth celebration.
Machine-generated summary. This summary was generated by a language model from the official nomination document and has not been reviewed line by line by an editor. It may contain errors. Check the source document before relying on any detail. Source: nomination document (PDF) · National Archives catalog entry. NRHP reference 76002046, listed May 24, 1976. Summary generated October 2026 (model claude-sonnet-5-5, prompt v1.0-2026-10-29, confidence high).
Key facts
| Address | W side of Lake Mexia, 9 mi. W of Mexia, Mexia |
|---|---|
| County | Limestone County |
| Listed | May 24, 1976 |
| Reference number | 76002046 |
| Resource type | Site |
| Period of significance | 1898 |
| Areas of significance | Social History |
| Level of significance | Local |
| Status (as stated in the nomination) | Still used for the annual Juneteenth celebration and as a community park; open to the public without restriction. |
| Acreage | 30 |
| Coordinates | 31.65490, -96.59919 (NPS GIS) |
What listing means for this property
Sites (archaeological sites, battlefields, landscapes) are often listed with a restricted address to protect them from looting or disturbance. Listing is honorary for private owners; federal undertakings on or near the site go through Section 106 review, and state laws may protect burials and artefacts regardless of listing.
General information, not legal or tax advice. Rules change; confirm with your State Historic Preservation Office or a qualified adviser.
Sources and further reading
- National Park Service, National Register of Historic Places database (snapshot May 2026), reference 76002046.
- Nomination form (PDF, National Archives) — catalog entry
- Wikidata Q34902944
- This listing as JSON
Last updated October 2026. Found an error? See the editorial policy for how to report it.