City of Tallahassee to Observe Emancipation Day

Community Celebrations Scheduled May 19-20

May 12, 2022

The City of Tallahassee recognizes May 20 as Emancipation Day. On this date in 1865, the Emancipation Proclamation was read on the steps of the Knott House by General Edward McCook. That's when the enslaved in Florida learned they were free - two years after the document was issued by President Abraham Lincoln. The Tallahassee City Commission approved May 20 as a paid holiday for City employees in November 2020.

"The Emancipation Proclamation freed nearly 4 million people, but it took time for that news to travel. For the more than 8,000 enslaved people in Leon County in 1865, May 20 was their freedom day. Commemorating this event can help us better understand our history and how its legacy impacts the present," Tallahassee City Commissioner Dianne Williams-Cox said.

Ways to Commemorate Emancipation Day

Throughout the month of May, there are many ways to commemorate Emancipation Day. The City of Tallahassee proudly supports the 20th of May - Emancipation in Florida programs, presented by the Knott House Museum and the John G. Riley Center/Museum. The free, multi-day event includes:

Thursday, May 19

• 4-7 p.m. - "Watching for Freedom, the Dawn of a New Day: Traditions, Customs and Reflections"
  Dr. Natalie R. King-Pedroso and Cotton Boll Collective will reflect on Freedom Eve and past Emancipation Day celebrations in Florida communities. The event will take place in Parkview at Cascades, 414 E. Bloxham St.

Friday, May 20

• 9 a.m. - Church bells in Tallahassee ring to celebrate Florida's Emancipation Day
• 10 a.m. - John G. Riley Center/Museum Civil War Commemorative Service
  Local schoolkids will decorate the graves of Civil War era Union soldiers buried at Old City Cemetery, 400 W. Park Ave. The 2nd Infantry Regiment United States Colored Troops will preside.
• 11:30 a.m. - Historical reenactment and reading of the Emancipation Proclamation
  Speeches and music will be performed on the steps of the Knott House Museum, 301 E. Park Ave., where the Emancipation Proclamation was first read in Florida. Historian and FAMU Distinguished Professor Dr. Larry Rivers will provide the keynote address. Free lunch and family activities will follow across the street in Lewis Park.

• 1-4 p.m. - Tours of The Grove Museum, 902 N. Monroe St.
  Tours will be offered hourly. The State Archives of Florida will be on site with documents related to emancipation in Florida.

• 2-4 p.m. - Free admission to local history sites
• Goodwood Museum and Gardens, 1600 Miccosukee Rd.
• The Grove Museum
• Tallahassee Museum, 3945 Museum Drive
• John G. Riley Center/Museum, 419 E. Jefferson St.
• Museum of Florida History, 500 S. Bronough St.
• 3 p.m. - Guest Speakers at Tallahassee Museum
  Gloria Jefferson Anderson and Hunter Hill will discuss the history of slavery, emancipation and celebration in Leon County.
• 7-11 p.m. - Emancipation & Abolitionist Ball, presented the 2nd Infantry Regiment United States Colored Troops Living History Association
  Held at the National Guard Armory, 1225 Easterwood Drive, the ball is the 2nd USCT's annual fundraiser. This formal event highlights the era with dinner, entertainment and attire representative of the period. A highlight of the evening is the presentation of the Althemese Barnes Historic Preservation Award. To purchase ball tickets online for a $50 donation, go to RileyMuseum.org.

For more information about Emancipation Day events, visit Museum of Florida History. For more information on the year-round offerings of the City's John G. Riley Center/Museum, visit RileyMuseum.org.