Ms. Opal Lee’s 98th
Birthday Celebration
Thursday, October 3rd
The Fort Worth Museum of Science and History
Celebrate the 98th birthday of Ms. Opal Lee, the iconic "Grandmother of Juneteenth," in an exclusive evening that honors her life achievements.
Ms. Opal has been a driving force in educating the nation about Juneteenth, and her work led to the official recognition of Juneteenth as a national holiday. This special event also debuts the Local Projects' exhibition design for the National Juneteenth Museum, showcasing the vision for the museum’s future.
Key Highlights of the Event
Honor Ms. Opal Lee: Celebrate her remarkable achievements and the significant impact she has made on our nation.
Museum Updates: CEO Jarred Howard will unveil new exhibit renderings and provide an update on the National Juneteenth Museum:
Debut stunning inaugural exhibit renderings developed by the award-winning and highly sought-after firm, Local Projects.
The capital campaign has surpassed the halfway mark.
Anticipated goal of surpassing $40M this year.
The museum is on track to break ground, with hopes to celebrate Ms. Opal’s 100th birthday at the completed museum.
About Ms. Opal Lee
Ms. Opal Lee is a modern-day catalyst for change:
She led the national movement to make Juneteenth an official holiday.
Collected over 1 million signatures for the cause.
Nominated for the Nobel Peace Prize in 2022.
Raised over $36 million for the National Juneteenth Museum, creating an economic engine for the Historic Southside community and a national model.
Opened a community farm to teach sustainable agriculture.
Generated over 6.8 billion digital media impressions over the last year, raising global awareness of her cause.
About Local Projects
Local Projects, based in New York, specializes in exhibition design and immersive storytelling. The firm’s portfolio includes the 9/11 Memorial Museum and other transformative projects that connect people with history and culture.
About the National Juneteenth Museum
The National Juneteenth Museum will be a 50,000 square-foot center for education, history, and cultural celebration. Located in Fort Worth’s Historic Southside, it will open in 2026. The museum is designed to be an epicenter for the ongoing celebration of Juneteenth and for advancing future generations through education and cultural exchange.
