Neill-Cochran House Museum Juneteenth Celebration & Bench By the Road Dedication
Commemorating the End of Slavery and Honoring the Ongoing Journey Towards Equality
sunday, JUNE 21
12:00 PM – 4:00 PM cst
FREE AND OPEN TO THE PUBLIC
Lunch by James Beard Award-Nominated Pitmaster Damien Brockway – Distant Relatives
Music by Christopher D. Spivey & Co. and the Jeremy George Quintet
The Neill-Cochran House Museum celebrated Juneteenth this year with exceptional programming that brought around 450 attendees. Our friends at Distant Relatives led by James Beard Award-nominated pitmaster Damien Brockway served up an incredible free barbeque lunch all afternoon. We heard musical performances by the Hutson-Tillotson University Faculty Jazz Ensemble aka the Jeremy George Quintet and the Christopher Spivey & Co. Gospel Choir. We had all sorts of activities for adults and children alike to partake in the celebration. From lawn games and crafts to guided tours of the Slave Quarters, the afternoon was filled with both fun and educational moments. Inside the house, attendees could enjoy the Jack White Retrospective on view in the gallery.
The celebration culminated with the Toni Morrison Society 36th Bench By the Road Dedication Ceremony. Dr. Carolyn Denard and Dr. Craig Stutman of the Toni Morrison Society joined us for the dedication. We heard from Zo Qadri, Austin City Council Member, and our very own Dr. Rowena Dasch about the significance of this Bench. Pastor Jennifer Cumberbatch said the dedication prayer and the NCHM Board Chair Karen Pope cut the ribbon. Following the Bench unveiling, Christopher Spivy led the crowd in Lift Every Voice and Sing. If you would like to see the full Bench Dedication Ceremony, click here to watch on our Youtube channel. And, of course, we're looking forward to another Juneteenth celebration next year.
Learn more about the NCHM Toni Morrison Society Bench by the Road here.
Juneteenth 2026 event Partners and Sponsors:
Christopher D. Spivey and Co. | Jeremy George Quintet (Huston-Tillotson University Faculty Jazz Ensemble) | Lynne Dobson and Greg Wooldridge
Giving Tuesday Supporters:
Kathryn & Larry Anderson – Dolly & John Barclay – Valerie Bauhofer – Elizabeth Hunt Blanc – Kim Brackin - Homoiselle Bujosa – Linda Condit – Jill Cornelius – Martha Cottingham – Anita E. Dabney – Mary Ellen Davenport – Rebekah Dobrasko – Nancy Vine Durling – Ted Eubanks – Judy Rienstra Farrell – Kathleen Flahive – Laraine B. Gilmore – Kenneth Hafertepe – Beverly Hamilton – Caroline Hassell – Carla Haynes-Clowe – Mary Louise Hopson – Meta Butler Hunt – Caroline Clarkson Jones – Teddy Kinney – Suzanne Labry – Mark Lambert – John Lewis – Alison Little – Susan & Chris Mack – Deena Mersky – Eliza Morehead – Karen Pope – Ellen Rienstra – Jane-Peyton Rogers – Jeanne & Rick Schulte – Susan Spruance & Earl Hunt – Joyce Statz – Renee Sutton – Bunnie Twidwell – Erin Waelder – Gia White – David D. Wright
Giving Tuesday Match Donors: Laura & Rex Bohls
Presenting Bench Sponsor: Gwendolyn Cowden
Amplify Austin Supporters:
Dolly & John Barclay - Joan & Doug Burnham - C.K. Carman - Caroline Caven - Bella Chang - Joyce Christian - Linda Condit - Martha Fletcher Coons - Martha Maxfield Cottingham - Jennifer Cressotti - Katie & Ben Cukerbaum - Kevin & Rowena Dasch - Cornell DeWitt - Eric Eklund - Judy Rienstra Farrell - Cristina Feldott - Kathleen Flahive - Lisa Fuka - Laraine B.Gilmore - Brooke Grafstrom - Caroline Hassell - Mimi Myer Hurst - Caroline Clarkson Jones - Tara & Ben Levy - Alison Little & Heidi Vance - Kathi & Neill Masterson - Catherine Miller - Eliza Morehead - Diana Morehouse - Ellie Morrison - Rebecca Nevarez - Tory Newby - Barbara Newey / Art Wise TX - Jill Kohnert Nicholson - Karen O'Quin - Cynthia Partlow - Fran Perez - Sandra & Steven Perry - Charles Peveto - Karen Pope - Suzanne Pringle - Flo Ann Randle - Pamela Schott - Jan Seward - Susan Spruance & Earl Hunt - Deborah Tye / Austin Kid's Directory - Julia & Michael Webber - June White-Dennis - Inez Wolins - Vereen Woodward - Patience Worrel & Brian Beck
Amplify Austin Match Donor: Lucy Hamilton
We are so grateful to our amazing community for supporting this landmark effort.
become a Sponsor:
Please donate or sponsor our future Juneteenth celebrations! Help keep this popular and important event free for everyone!
To become a sponsor, contact Cristina Feldott at (512) 478-2335 or cfeldott@nchmuseum.org.