Opinion: A reality check on the Juneteenth museum proposal

Galveston is the birthplace of Juneteenth, and deserves a world-class museum honoring this pivotal moment in U.S. history. However, the proposal to build a museum at the L.A. Morgan School location presents strategic challenges, is rooted in emotional rhetoric, and is not an economically viable option.

The numbers don’t add up
The Hope Tutorial’s $4.5 million proposal is just the beginning. Conservative estimates place total project costs between $29-41 million for infrastructure, buildout, and exhibits for a high-quality museum facility. Fort Worth’s National Juneteenth Museum — designed by the internationally renowned Bjarke Ingels Group with Opal Lee’s celebrity and major financial backing — underscores this challenge, with construction costs estimated at $70 million.

Despite three years of fundraising, they had raised less than 60 percent of their goal as of early 2025.

Suppose Fort Worth can’t fully fund its project with such massive advantages. How can Galveston realistically expect to raise $35-plus million for a museum in a residential neighborhood with no tourist foot traffic?

A more viable alternative: Workforce housing
The L.A. Morgan site would be far better utilized for workforce housing developed by Build Galveston, addressing a critical community need while requiring significantly less capital investment. The Cynthia and George Mitchell Foundation has already committed $1.5 million to the Galveston Essential Workforce Housing Fund, with a goal of raising $5 million — a realistic and achievable target.

When teachers, healthcare workers, public safety personnel, and other vital employees can’t afford to live in the community they serve, Galveston loses its tax base, weakens its democratic process, and frays its community fabric. This housing crisis has been particularly devastating to Black families, who have been leaving the island for decades in search of affordable housing and economic opportunity.

Honoring Dr. Morgan’s legacy
The proposed workforce housing development includes plans for a community center honoring Dr. LA Morgan’s contributions, ensuring his legacy remains visible while serving the practical needs of residents — the teachers, first responders, and families who keep our community strong.

A better vision for a Juneteenth museum
Galveston deserves a world-class Juneteenth Museum, but it needs a location that maximizes both its historical impact and long-term viability. The “if you build it, they will come” mentality is fiction.

Museums are visitor attractions that require proper marketing, strategic positioning, and built-in foot traffic to succeed. A successful Juneteenth museum needs to be part of Galveston’s visitor corridor, where tourists naturally flow. It needs to be accessible, visible, and connected to the broader narrative of our island’s history.

I’ve worked alongside Sam Collins, Sue Johnson, and other leaders on the Juneteenth Legacy Project and the Absolute Equality initiative since its inception in 2020, and I deeply respect their ongoing work and commitment to illuminating, amplifying, and cultivating our community’s history.

However, I believe this important project deserves a location and funding strategy that ensures a Juneteenth museum's long-term success in Galveston.

Rather than pursuing a project that could consume years of fundraising with uncertain prospects, let’s channel our energy into an already funded workforce housing initiative that addresses the immediate crisis driving families off the island while identifying a strategic location for a museum with realistic financial projections.

The bottom line
Galveston families are leaving the island today because they can’t afford to stay. This isn’t about choosing between honoring Black history and meeting housing needs—it’s about making strategic decisions that deliver results for our collective community. The birthplace of Juneteenth deserves a solution that prioritizes a viable path forward over symbolic gestures that may never materialize.

Sheridan Mitchell Lorenz teamed with Sam Collins, Sue Johnson, Reginald Adams, Opal Lee, and members of the Galveston community to create the Juneteenth Legacy Project in 2020, dedicating the Absolute Equality art installation on June 17, 2021. She continues to support the Nia Cultural Center-driven initiative.

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