Page 2 - Pier 21 News Today : Breaking News, Live Updates & Top Stories | Vimarsana

Halifax Canadian Immigrant Fair happening March 31, 2021, Canadian Museum of Immigration - Pier 21. Join us for all things career, education & settlement!

Even now, many say, what is this? this is a historian with the galveston pier project. where are we right now? >> we're at pier 21 where many slaves would have arrived in galveston. >> reporter: he said in 1865 admirals rolled in and said they had to honor the emancipation proclamation that was signed two years earlier. >> if they hadn't come to galveston, i don't think they would have enforced it to this day. that's why he says this history still matters. one thing that was fascinating about the project was the community aspect. they even held a contest to get local students involved in paint...

This? >> reporter: many here say now is the time to honor a history too often overlooked. >> enslaved people -- >> reporter: this man is a historian with galveston's juneteenth project. where are we? >> we are at pier 21 where enslaved african-americans arrived. >> reporter: mostly black union soldiers rode into texas to tell slaveholders they had to respect the emancipation proclamation signed two years earlier. >> in the union soldiers are not arrived, i don't think they would have enforced it until this day. >> reporter: why residents here say this history still matters. what do you hope th...

Historian. >> where are we right now? >> we're at pier 21 where many enslaved africans would have arrived here in galveston. >> they said mostly black union soldiers road in to tell them they had to free their slaves. >> that's why they say this history still matters. >> what do you hope that people take away when they walk by and see this work of art. >> i want people to learn something they didn't know. >> they hope this puerile inpyres people around the world to understand the significance of this. >> did you learn about it in school? >> i did, back in the south. >> now it's a federal holid...

Years ago, right here in galveston, texas. why now? why is the message of this mural so important to share? >> i say why not now? for decades people even in galveston didn't know about the history of their own city. >> reporter: he even created an interactive digital code that visitors can scan to learn more. >> we really looked at this project as an outdoor classroom. >> reporter: and got students involved in the project. even someone who doesn't know what juneteenth is sees this and they're like wow, what is this? >> reporter: many here say now is the time to honor a history too often overlo...