Opal Lee’s 100th birthday marked more than a personal milestone. On Oct. 7, 2026, the Fort Worth activist known as the Grandmother of Juneteenth celebrated her centennial as construction began on the National Juneteenth Museum, a project closely connected to her lifelong work. The museum will preserve the history of Juneteenth while creating a lasting place to explore the people, experiences and struggles behind the holiday.
Opal Lee Turned 100 as the Museum Finally Broke Ground
For Opal Lee, her 100th birthday arrived with a milestone tied directly to decades of work. On Oct. 7, 2026, the Fort Worth site of the future National Juneteenth Museum held a ceremonial groundbreaking and began clearing the Southside Community Center. The planned museum will occupy a 50,000-square-foot space in Fort Worth’s Historic Southside and is projected to open in 2029.
The Museum Will Preserve the History of Juneteenth
The planned National Juneteenth Museum is intended to tell the story of Juneteenth and place the holiday within the broader history of freedom in the United States. Juneteenth commemorates June 19, 1865, when Union troops arrived in Galveston and announced the freedom of enslaved people in Texas. The museum is envisioned as a national center for historical preservation, education and conversations about freedom, unity and opportunity.
Lee Helped Push Juneteenth Toward Federal Recognition
Lee’s connection to Juneteenth stretches back to childhood, but her later advocacy helped bring the holiday national attention. She spent years promoting Juneteenth and campaigning for federal recognition, including her Walk for Freedom effort. In 2021, President Joe Biden signed legislation making Juneteenth a federal holiday, with Lee standing beside him during the signing.
The Museum Site Is Close to a Painful Chapter in Lee’s Childhood
The location carries a particularly personal history for Lee. The future museum site is near the corner where a home was later built for her, close to where her family once lived. Lee was 12 in 1939 when a white mob descended on her family’s home after they moved into a white neighborhood. According to contemporary newspaper reports cited by the AP, the mob smashed windows and furniture.
A $3 Million Gift Will Help Build the Museum
The construction milestone also came with significant financial support. The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints announced a $3 million commitment toward construction of the museum. The plans also include a genealogy center designed to help visitors discover and preserve family histories, with particular attention to records and stories that have historically been difficult for many African American families to trace and document.
Michelle Obama Joined the Centennial Celebration
Lee’s birthday celebration continued beyond the museum site, with former first lady Michelle Obama appearing at an evening event at the Fort Worth Convention Center. The program was part of the National Juneteenth Museum’s Uniting Voices Speaker Series and was organized as a special celebration of Lee’s centennial. The event connected Lee’s decades of advocacy with the museum’s next chapter.
Lee’s Childhood Celebrations Shaped Her Connection to Juneteenth
Long before Juneteenth became a federal holiday, Lee experienced the celebration as part of her family and community life. She has described childhood memories involving food, music and games and later helped organize Juneteenth events in Fort Worth. Her professional life also included decades as a teacher, counselor and community activist. Those experiences became part of the foundation for the public advocacy that eventually helped make Juneteenth a federal holiday.
