As the nation commemorated Juneteenth, thousands of people lined up outside the National Archives in Washington to see rarely exhibited, original versions of the Emancipation Proclamation.
The former is President Abraham Lincoln's order freeing America's slaves in 1863, amid the Civil War; the latter is from 1865 when a Union general informed Texas that slaves were now free -- on the dayBoth documents, while foundational to the United States and the end of slavery, are very fragile and normally kept in a secure climate-controlled vault with limited light exposure to ensure their preservation.
Visitors to the National Archives on Monday told ABC News that viewing the documents was impactful and an important way for everyone to recognize history, including the next generation. Juneteenth was designated by President Joe Biden as a federal holiday in 2021. Washington resident Shawna brought her young son, John, for the first time and said she hoped Juneteenth does not become synonymous merely with a day off of work -- but rather "to actually understand the purpose of it and why is it important to us."
"When you hear Fourth of July, you think of fireworks sales, holiday, people cooking out. Here's June the 19th, and you have to advertise it," Warren said.
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Emancipation Proclamation to be on permanent display next to founding US documents“Together, they tell a more comprehensive story of the history of all Americans and document progress in our nation’s continuous growth toward a more perfect Union,” Archivist of the United States Dr. Colleen Shogan said.
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‘African American history is American history:’ Celebrations continue ahead of 3rd JuneteenthMonday marks the third ever official Juneteenth holiday, celebrating the emancipation of all slaves.
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Thousands gathered in Brooklyn for grand finale of three-day Juneteenth festivalThis is the 14th year showcasing Black history, culture, and the importance of the holiday.
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