Ashton Vila shortly after its construction in 1859
General Gordon Granger
Statue at Villa representing the reading of the Emancipation Proclamation.
Ashton Villa after 1900.
On June 19, 1865, Union General Gordon Granger read “General Order No. 3” from the balcony of Ashton Villa, officially ending slavery in Texas, nearly two and a half years after President Lincoln gave the order and just two months after the president’s death. The anniversary of Granger's announcement has grown into the international celebration of emancipation known as Juneteenth, which is commemorated by a statue on the grounds. While the house may not be open for touring, you can learn about Juneteenth at the Galveston Island Visitor Center, located in the Ashton Villa carriage house.
Ashton Villa and Galveston Island Visitor Center
- Visitor Center Hours: Daily, 9 a.m. - 5 p.m.
- 2328 Broadway, Galveston, TX
- 888-425-4753
- Visit Website
- National Register of Historic Places
