Fort Worth is celebrating a remarkable milestone: Dr. Opal Lee, the beloved “Grandmother of Juneteenth,” turned 100 years old on October 7, 2026. Her birthday is also an exciting moment for families because it marks major progress toward the National Juneteenth Museum, a future place where children and adults can learn about freedom, history, and the power of one person to create change.
Who Is Opal Lee?
Opal Lee is a Fort Worth teacher, counselor, and civil-rights leader who spent years encouraging Americans to recognize Juneteenth as a national holiday. Juneteenth commemorates June 19, 1865, when enslaved people in Galveston, Texas, finally learned they were free—more than two years after the Emancipation Proclamation.
 CREDITS TO PHOTO OWNER: AFRICAN ARCHIVES |
Lee became known for her “Walking for Freedom” campaign. At age 89, she began walking 2.5 miles at a time to represent the 2.5 years between the Emancipation Proclamation and the announcement of freedom in Texas. Her determination helped inspire the movement that made Juneteenth a federal holiday in 2021.
A Birthday With a Big Purpose
Lee’s 100th birthday celebration included two meaningful events. In the morning, the National Juneteenth Museum held “Clearing the Way,” a ceremony at the future museum site in Fort Worth’s Historic Southside. It marked the clearing of the former Southside Community Center and the move toward construction of the museum’s permanent home.
That evening, former First Lady Michelle Obama joined the celebration for “A Conversation with Michelle Obama,” part of the museum’s Uniting Voices speaker series. The event honored Lee’s legacy while raising support for the museum and its mission to educate future generations.
 CREDITS TO PHOTO OWNER: MICHELLE OBAMA |
What Families Can Look Forward To
The planned National Juneteenth Museum is expected to be about 50,000 square feet and is projected to open in 2029. It will include exhibits, a theater, and a genealogy center, giving families a welcoming space to explore Juneteenth’s history and the broader story of freedom in America.
For children, the museum could become a powerful place to ask questions, discover local history, and learn that courage can begin in one’s own neighborhood. Lee’s story also shows kids that it is never too early—or too late—to stand up for fairness, help others, and make a difference.
Talk About It at Home
Here are a few simple ways families can honor Opal Lee’s birthday and continue the conversation:
- Read a child-friendly book about Juneteenth together.
- Ask children what freedom means to them.
- Visit a local museum, library, or historical site that shares Black history.
- Encourage children to identify one way they can help make their school or neighborhood kinder and fairer.
- Mark Juneteenth on your family calendar and learn something new each year.
Dr. Opal Lee’s 100th birthday is more than a celebration of one extraordinary woman. It is an invitation for families to remember the past, celebrate progress, and help build a more thoughtful future for the next generation.
Event Details
A Conversation with Michelle Obama was held on Wednesday, October 7, 2026, from 6:00 to 8:00 p.m. at the Fort Worth Convention Center, 1201 Houston St., Fort Worth, Texas. The event was open to the public and benefited the National Juneteenth Museum.
The “Clearing the Way” ceremony took place earlier that day, from 9:00 to 9:45 a.m., at the South Side Community Center, 959 E. Rosedale St., Fort Worth.
