Last year, Juneteenth became an official holiday — the first national holiday to be signed into law since MLK Day (today) in 1983. The law is in no small part thanks to Fort Worth’s Opal Lee, who worked for decades to commemorate Juneteenth (June 19), the day slavery in the US was abolished following the Civil War.

But Opal’s other dream is about to become a reality, too: A National Juneteenth Museum will be built in her hometown. Here’s what we know so far.

📝 The facts

What: A brand-new museum with national designation, dedicated to the history of Juneteenth + the abolition of slavery in the United States.
Where: The new museum will be built where Lee’s current Juneteenth Museum resides at 901 E. Rosedale St. in the Historic Southside, but it will be a completely new development.
When: There’s plans to break ground this year — detailed designs were promised for after Jan. 1, so keep an eye out for those soon. Project completion is estimated for summer 2024.
How: The museum will begin a national fundraising campaign this spring to raise $30 million, though a third was already donated in the campaign’s silent phase.

🍽️ The food hall

This past December, project developer Sable Brands announced the museum would have an adjoining food hall dedicated to serving Black cuisine. Expect Soul food, Cajun + Caribbean food.

💼 The business incubator

While Juneteenth is rooted in history, the museum will extend beyond the past to fortify Fort Worth’s Black community in Historic Southside. Plans for a business incubator will strengthen entrepreneurship and economic security in the neighborhood.

🖋️ The little details

One confirmed artifact the museum will house is the pen President Biden used to sign the law making Juneteenth a national holiday. We can’t wait to see what else the museum — one of many exciting local developments happening in 2022 — will bring to our city.

Pass this story on to share details of the forthcoming National Juneteenth Museum with the community.

EVENTS

Today

Clem Snide | Mon., Jan. 17 | 6-10 p.m. | Tulips FTW, 112 St. Louis St. | $17+ | Enjoy $5 frozen cocktails and Tallboys as Clem rocks the stage. 🎤
DREAM All-American Bowl | Mon., Jan. 17 | 10 a.m.-5 p.m. | AT&T Stadium | $45 | A single ticket includes admission to 2 games and an all-access pass to the Dallas Cowboys locker room. 🏈

Tuesday

Rodney Parker & Charlie Shafter | Tues., Jan. 18 | 6:30-7:15 p.m. | Bud Light Roadhouse, east side of Dickies Arena | Free | Stop by to watch Rodney and Charlie after your day of festivities at the FWSSR. 🎶

Wednesday

Bulls’ Night Out Rodeo Pre-Party | Wed., Jan. 19 | 5:30-7:30 p.m. | Amon Carter Museum of American Art | $40 for non-Carter Society Members | This pre-party will feature live music, Gus’s World Famous Fried Chicken, and craft cocktails by Pop Up Bar.

We have a monthly guide filled with events + activities you can plan for in advance. Click the button below to bookmark ideas for upcoming date nights, family outings, and time with friends.

PLAN OUT YOUR JANUARY

NEWS NOTES

Weather

61º | Sunny | 0% chance of rain

Today Is

Martin Luther King Jr. Day. While today’s MLK Day Parade was cancelled due to COVID-19, you can honor the life + legacy of Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. by checking out Tarrant County Community College’s virtual exhibit on the timeline of Dr. King’s life and impact on the civil rights movement.

Health

There are free COVID-19 tests and vaccinations at this year’s Stock Show + Rodeo. Find tests at the north end of the Moncrief Building from 7:30 a.m.-6:30 p.m. daily, and vaccine walk-ins at Meeting Room E in the Richardson Bass Building, 1501 Rip Johnson Dr., from 11 a.m.-4 p.m. (closed today + Sundays).

Real Estate

Want to see $600,000 spent seven ways in Fort Worth’s housing market? Check out these homes that range from $179 to $283 per sqft. Which caught the FTWtoday Editors' eyes? This 2022-built three-story unit near the Trinity Trails for $268 per sqft (sorry, we have expensive taste). 🏡 (Fort Worth Star-Telegram)

Cause

Volunteer but make it 50’s — the Tarrant Area Food Bank is hosting a 1950's Sock Hop-themed shift tomorrow, Tues., Jan. 18 from 6-9 p.m. Volunteers will sort, inspect and repack donated products for future distribution, all while wearing greaser jackets + poodle skirts, of course. Sign up here.

History

The Texas Historical Commission is making a statewide preservation plan for the next decade, and they want your stories. What Texas places + traditions ought to be preserved? To participate, submit your ideas on this forum and take this quick poll.

📸 @NBCDFW

Any lucky Fort Worthians manage to snag this year’s commemorative scarf? The Stock Show + Rodeo’s collector scarf often sells out the very first weekend, so interested buyers need to act extremely fast (or potentially build a time machine).

Only available to purchase on-site in the exhibits hall, the scarf is $50 and a tie of the same print is $30. They were designed by FWSSR art director Amy Myers.

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THE WRAP

Editor's pick: We asked y'all how often you'd use the DFW high-speed rail — most of you said a couple times a month, though some would use the train five days a week for commuting. But reader Patricia said there’s absolutely no reason to ever go to Dallas. All we'll say is we're FTWtoday for a reason.

Missed Friday's newsletter? Here's the rail we're talking about.

Today's edition by:

Sarah

FTWtoday Team

Editorial: Rebecca, Sarah, Dayten, Josh

Sales: Sherry

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