Join Us for the “From Plantation to Emancipation Tour”, a Visit Houston Signature Experience!

Saturday, June 15 and Saturday, June 22 at 12:30 p.m. - Actress Khi Stephens and a tour guide breathe life into the struggles and triumphs of those who lived through the times of slavery and the jubilation of freedom. The stories, steeped in authenticity, draw from a script penned by Martha Whiting-Goddard, a direct descendant of Reverend Jack Yates, and once a resident of one of the featured houses you explore.
The 1847 Kellum-Noble House, the 1866 Fourth Ward Cottage, and the 1870 Yates House—each one a UNESCO-designated Site of Memory —stand as pillars of remembrance. As you wander through these homes, you are not just walking through museum exhibits; you are transported to a different era, where each room tells a story of endurance and each artifact a testament to the indomitable human spirit.

Lunch and Learns have returned! Please join us for Black History and Texas History with author Dr. Ronald Goodwin on Thursday, June 20, at Noon. Dr. Ronald Goodwin from Prairie View A&M University will discuss the collection of slave narratives in Texas during the preservation efforts of the New Deal in the 1930s.

About the Author and Speaker: Dr. Goodwin has lectured at The Heritage Society and is a distinguished Co-Chair of the Levi Jordan Plantation Advisory Committee for the Texas Historical Commission, 2020-present. He is the General Editor, PVAMU Book Series, Texas A&M University Press, 2019-present. He has taught coursed in US History Survey, African American History, Urban History, American Chattel Slavery, Military History, Contemporary US History, and Early National US History.

Bring your own lunch or order lunch from Potbelly’s when you purchase your ticket online (please order lunch by June 18).

TICKETS

Join Us for Juneteenth Tea Cakes & Tours Every Saturday in June! 🎉☕

Embark on a journey through history at our three historic houses that are designated by UNESCO as Sites of Memory of their Enslaved People’s Project. Traditional red punch and tea cakes will be served.  Bring the whole family!

🏠 Step into History: Our three historic houses stand as silent witnesses to the triumphs and struggles of generations past. From the opulent grandeur of the plantation era to the resilient spirit of emancipation, each house tells a unique story of resilience, courage, and hope.

📜 Guided Tours: Led by a tour guide, our Black History Tour offers a glimpse into the lives of those who once lived on a plantation and segregated neighborhood after June 19, 1865. Learn about the daily lives of enslaved individuals, the struggles for freedom, and the years that followed Juneteenth in our nation's history.

🍰 Tea Cake Tastings: Indulge in a sweet treat as you savor the flavors of tradition with our tea cake tastings. Made from cherished family recipes passed down through generations, these delectable treats serve as a reminder of resilience and community in the face of adversity.

Don't miss your chance to be part of this unforgettable experience on

• Saturday, June 1

• Saturday, June 8

• Saturday, June 15

• Wednesday, June 19

Book your Juneteenth Tea Cake Tour today and discover Black History stories that shaped our City's history at 10:00 a.m., 11:30 a.m., 1 p.m., or 2:30 p.m. below. For Group Tours, please contact tours@heritagesociety.org.

Join Us for the “From Plantation to Emancipation Tour”, a Visit Houston Signature Experience!

Saturday, June 15 and Saturday, June 22 at 12:30 p.m. - Actress Khi Stephens and a tour guide breathe life into the struggles and triumphs of those who lived through the times of slavery and the jubilation of freedom. The stories, steeped in authenticity, draw from a script penned by Martha Whiting-Goddard, a direct descendant of Reverend Jack Yates, and once a resident of one of the featured houses you explore.
The 1847 Kellum-Noble House, the 1866 Fourth Ward Cottage, and the 1870 Yates House—each one a UNESCO-designated Site of Memory —stand as pillars of remembrance. As you wander through these homes, you are not just walking through museum exhibits; you are transported to a different era, where each room tells a story of endurance and each artifact a testament to the indomitable human spirit.

Join Us for Juneteenth Tea Cakes & Tours Every Saturday in June! 🎉☕

Embark on a journey through history at our three historic houses that are designated by UNESCO as Sites of Memory of their Enslaved People’s Project. Traditional red punch and tea cakes will be served.  Bring the whole family!

🏠 Step into History: Our three historic houses stand as silent witnesses to the triumphs and struggles of generations past. From the opulent grandeur of the plantation era to the resilient spirit of emancipation, each house tells a unique story of resilience, courage, and hope.

📜 Guided Tours: Led by a tour guide, our Black History Tour offers a glimpse into the lives of those who once lived on a plantation and segregated neighborhood after June 19, 1865. Learn about the daily lives of enslaved individuals, the struggles for freedom, and the years that followed Juneteenth in our nation's history.

🍰 Tea Cake Tastings: Indulge in a sweet treat as you savor the flavors of tradition with our tea cake tastings. Made from cherished family recipes passed down through generations, these delectable treats serve as a reminder of resilience and community in the face of adversity.

Don't miss your chance to be part of this unforgettable experience on

• Saturday, June 1

• Saturday, June 8

• Saturday, June 15

• Wednesday, June 19

Book your Juneteenth Tea Cake Tour today and discover Black History stories that shaped our City's history at 10:00 a.m., 11:30 a.m., 1 p.m., or 2:30 p.m. below. For Group Tours, please contact tours@heritagesociety.org.

Join Us for Juneteenth Tea Cakes & Tours Every Saturday in June! 🎉☕

Embark on a journey through history at our three historic houses that are designated by UNESCO as Sites of Memory of their Enslaved People’s Project. Traditional red punch and tea cakes will be served.  Bring the whole family!

🏠 Step into History: Our three historic houses stand as silent witnesses to the triumphs and struggles of generations past. From the opulent grandeur of the plantation era to the resilient spirit of emancipation, each house tells a unique story of resilience, courage, and hope.

📜 Guided Tours: Led by a tour guide, our Black History Tour offers a glimpse into the lives of those who once lived on a plantation and segregated neighborhood after June 19, 1865. Learn about the daily lives of enslaved individuals, the struggles for freedom, and the years that followed Juneteenth in our nation's history.

🍰 Tea Cake Tastings: Indulge in a sweet treat as you savor the flavors of tradition with our tea cake tastings. Made from cherished family recipes passed down through generations, these delectable treats serve as a reminder of resilience and community in the face of adversity.

Don't miss your chance to be part of this unforgettable experience on

• Saturday, June 1

• Saturday, June 8

• Saturday, June 15

• Wednesday, June 19

Book your Juneteenth Tea Cake Tour today and discover Black History stories that shaped our City's history at 10:00 a.m., 11:30 a.m., 1 p.m., or 2:30 p.m. below. For Group Tours, please contact tours@heritagesociety.org.

Join Us for Juneteenth Tea Cakes & Tours Every Saturday in June! 🎉☕

Embark on a journey through history at our three historic houses that are designated by UNESCO as Sites of Memory of their Enslaved People’s Project. Traditional red punch and tea cakes will be served.  Bring the whole family!

🏠 Step into History: Our three historic houses stand as silent witnesses to the triumphs and struggles of generations past. From the opulent grandeur of the plantation era to the resilient spirit of emancipation, each house tells a unique story of resilience, courage, and hope.

📜 Guided Tours: Led by a tour guide, our Black History Tour offers a glimpse into the lives of those who once lived on a plantation and segregated neighborhood after June 19, 1865. Learn about the daily lives of enslaved individuals, the struggles for freedom, and the years that followed Juneteenth in our nation's history.

🍰 Tea Cake Tastings: Indulge in a sweet treat as you savor the flavors of tradition with our tea cake tastings. Made from cherished family recipes passed down through generations, these delectable treats serve as a reminder of resilience and community in the face of adversity.

Don't miss your chance to be part of this unforgettable experience on

• Saturday, June 1

• Saturday, June 8

• Saturday, June 15

• Wednesday, June 19

Book your Juneteenth Tea Cake Tour today and discover Black History stories that shaped our City's history at 10:00 a.m., 11:30 a.m., 1 p.m., or 2:30 p.m. below. For Group Tours, please contact tours@heritagesociety.org.

This Juneteenth event is free to the public, thanks to our sponsors Canine Companions.

9:30 a.m. - Juneteenth Freedmen’s Town Bike Riders ride by the Yates House for this photo opportunity tradition

9:45 a.m. - Teacake reception, red velvet coffee will be served

10:00 a.m. - Historian and Poet Dr. Don Williams reads General Order No. 3

10:05 a.m. - Martha Whiting-Goddard, great granddaughter of Reverend Jack Yates, shares family history and what it was like growing up in the Yates House that was moved to Sam Houston Park

10:10 a.m. - The National Convention of Gospel Choirs and Choruses -Houston performs (Organization’s History)

10:40 a.m. - Harold Cash reminisces his experience as a black cowboy

11:10 a.m. - Larry Callies shares his inspiration behind the Black Cowboy Museum

11:40 a.m. - Executive Director Alison Bell introduces “From Plantation to Emancipation Tour” as featured and co-designed by Visit Houston, Houston’s tourism board

Noon - Celebration ends

12:30 - 2 p.m. - Optional Tour for $25: From Plantation to Emancipation Tour. Book HERE.

JUNETEENTH SPEAKER SERIES PROGRAM

Saturday, June 17, 2023    11:00 a.m. - 1:00 p.m.

Join us for our second annual Juneteenth educational program experience “From Plantation to Emancipation”. This year, our program is free to the public thanks to our sponsors at Constellation Energy.

Special Guests: Georgia Nolan, Past Texas State President, Chairperson NACW and Past President of Houston; Trinity United Methodist Church; Rae Bryant of the Houston Suffragists Project; Descendants of the Reverend Jack Yates and Members of Antioch Missionary Baptist Church

SPEAKERS

Opening by vocalist Sheryl Brady, Member of NACW

• Brady researched music that was sung by the NACW members in the early part of the 20th century

Dr. Donald Williams recites the Emancipation Proclamation, General Order No. 3

• Union General Gordon Granger and his troops traveled to Galveston, Texas to announce General Order No. 3 on June 19th, 1865.  Williams is a Texas historian, veteran, and THS board member who performs poetry for organizations

Welcome and Juneteenth Introduction by Martha Whiting-Goddard, great granddaughter of Jack Yates

• Whiting-Goddard is a THS board member who helped relocate the 1870 Jack Yates House to Sam Houston Park, wrote our Black History Tour Program and headed our UNESCO historic house designation project

175th Anniversary of Trinity UMC Church by Anita Lee-Punch, TUMC Historian

• Lee-Punch will be sharing how Trinity was formed in 1848 by enslaved men. It has been located at Live Oak and Holman streets in Third Ward since 1951.

B.H. Grimes of the Ancient Order of Pilgrims by Dr. Kevin J. Williams, descendant of Buchanan H. Grimes

• The Ancient Order of Pilgrims was established in Houston in 1882 to address economic issues faced by the city's African-American population during the difficult years following the period of Reconstruction.

The Pilgrim Temple Memorabilia Collection by Cheryle Cavitt, daughter of Roscoe A. Cavitt, the former Executive Secretary of National Negro Chamber of Commerce

• In 1926 the fraternal organization of The Ancient Order of Pilgrims erected a headquarters building called the Pilgrim Temple. The structure is long-gone from the corner across from THS, but an historic marker for the organization has been placed in Sam Houston Park.

The Reverend Jack Yates House by Devaron Yates, descendant of Jack Yates

• Yates, a preservationist, will share an architectural review of the 1870 Jack Yates House that was originally located at 1318 Andrews Street in Freedmen's Town and now in Sam Houston Park.  Reader’s Digest has named the house the most famous house in Texas for two years in a row.

The UNESCO Slave Route Project and Slavery Migration Studies by Summer Perritt of Rice University

• Perritt will share segments of her dissertation on the migration of Black Americans to the U.S. South in the post-civil rights era and her primary research interests include Black southern identity, Black culture, slavery, and memory.

Video about Willie Blount, first graduate of a Texas law school

• Very little was known about this female trailblazer until now.

June 3, 10, 17 (Sponsored in part by Constellation Energy)

10:00 AM, 11:30 AM, 1:00 PM, and 2:30 PM

This was our most popular tour last year. When you book your tour on Saturdays in June, enjoy red punch and authentic tea cakes.

Come learn why the international organization UNESCO designated our three historic houses as Sites of Memory for their “Slave Trade Project” and why House Beautiful Magazine named our Black History Tours as a must-see. Reader’s Digest Magazine also named the Reverend Jack Yates House as the most famous house in Texas two years in a row.

Simply book your historic house tour ticket on these Saturdays… June 3, June 10, and June 17 - and enjoy Teacakes and Red Punch (sponsored by our corporate partners at Constellation Energy) with your tour.

June 3, 10, 17 (Sponsored in part by Constellation Energy)

10:00 AM, 11:30 AM, 1:00 PM, and 2:30 PM

This was our most popular tour last year. When you book your tour on Saturdays in June, enjoy red punch and authentic tea cakes.

Come learn why the international organization UNESCO designated our three historic houses as Sites of Memory for their “Slave Trade Project” and why House Beautiful Magazine named our Black History Tours as a must-see. Reader’s Digest Magazine also named the Reverend Jack Yates House as the most famous house in Texas two years in a row.

Simply book your historic house tour ticket on these Saturdays… June 3, June 10, and June 17 - and enjoy Teacakes and Red Punch (sponsored by our corporate partners at Constellation Energy) with your tour.

June 3, 10, 17 (Sponsored in part by Constellation Energy)

10:00 AM, 11:30 AM, 1:00 PM, and 2:30 PM

This was our most popular tour last year. When you book your tour on Saturdays in June, enjoy red punch and authentic tea cakes.

Come learn why the international organization UNESCO designated our three historic houses as Sites of Memory for their “Slave Trade Project” and why House Beautiful Magazine named our Black History Tours as a must-see. Reader’s Digest Magazine also named the Reverend Jack Yates House as the most famous house in Texas two years in a row.

Simply book your historic house tour ticket on these Saturdays… June 3, June 10, and June 17 - and enjoy Teacakes and Red Punch (sponsored by our corporate partners at Constellation Energy) with your tour.

“FROM PLANTATION TO EMANCIPATION”

PROGRAM AGENDA FOR SATURDAY, JUNE 11

This is an exclusive, educational day dedicated to Juneteenth and Black Houston History. Book a Black History tour purchase at 10:00 AM, 1:00 PM, or 2:30 PM, and you will receive free admission to a Red Punch and Tea Cake Reception and an empowering Speaker Series from 11:00 AM to 1:00 PM.

11:00 AM - 11:14 AM Reception

11:00 AM Teacake and Red Punch

11:00 AM Poem by Dr. Don Williams

11:05 AM Music/Songs by National Convention of Gospel Choirs and Choruses

11:15 AM - 1:00 PM Children’s Event

Children's Coloring activity of Reverend Jack Yates and Downtown Black Businesses Map by Sandra Lord, in the General Duncan Store.

11:15 AM - 1:00 PM Speaker Series

11:15 AM Welcome and Juneteenth Introduction by Martha Whiting-Goddard

11:30 AM Reverend Jack Yates House by Devaron Yates

12 Noon Pilgrim Temple and Downtown's Black-Owned Businesses by Cheryl Cavitt

12:30 PM African American Women Suffrage by Rae Bryant

BOOK TICKETS TO THE JUNETEENTH PROGRAM (11 AM - 1 PM) WITH BLACK HISTORIC HOUSES TOUR

Our Speaker Series has returned! Come have lunch with us in-person or participate via Zoom! Our Speaker Series invites HOUnique subject matter experts on Houston and Texas history. Meet like-minded Houstonians at these events, bring your work colleagues, and invite your friends. Proceeds from the event go to preserving Houston history.

Join historian Cheryle Cavitt for stories about Houston’s Black-owned businesses located at the sophisticated Pilgrim Temple. This is a unique Black History lecture, because Cheryle and her mother were responsible for attaining the historical marker The Ancient Order of Pilgrims in Sam Houston Park. Cheryle has a mini-museum from the Pilgrim Temple’s days of glory and we are looking forward to seeing what she brings to the Tea Room.

A Zoom meeting link will be shared with those who register.

If joining us in person, we will send you instructions with a lunch menu or you may click here to see the lunch menu to place an order. We will pick up your lunch at Rosalie located at the C. Baldwin Hotel (named after Charlotte Baldwin, “the mother of Houston”). You may also bring your own lunch. Drinks are available for sale in our gift shop.