06/19/2026
June Nineteenth, officially known as Juneteenth National Independence Day, is a federal holiday in the United States that commemorates the end of slavery and celebrates freedom. The name "Juneteenth" has been in use since the 1890s and marks June 19, 1865, the day when the Emancipation Proclamation was enforced in Texas at the end of the American Civil War. This day celebrates freedom, resilience, and the ongoing pursuit of equality.
While Lucan Biddulph is best known for its connection to the Donnellys, the area's history began long before their arrival. In 1829, the Wilberforce Settlement became home to many black families seeking freedom and opportunity. As slavery and anti-black discrimination continued in the United States, Black settlers from Cincinnati, Ohio, as well as Albany, Rochester, New York, Boston, and Baltimore, journeyed north to Canada in search of safety and a better future. Lucan Biddulph offered these families a place to build new lives, free from the threat of slavery and the racial violence and anti-black riots that were occurring in many American communities.
Discover the legacy of the Wilberforce Colony and more at the Lucan Area Heritage & Donnelly Museum.
