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NATCHEZ, Miss. — In commemoration of Juneteenth, Natchez National Historical Park will present a luminary on the front lawn at the Melrose estate on June 19. The park will hold this grand illumination in remembrance of the nearly 700 enslaved people who labored at Melrose and on the associated cotton plantations of John and Mary Louisa McMurran.
Juneteenth celebrates the date of June 19, 1865, when enslaved people of African descent located in Galveston, Texas, learned of their freedom from the slavery system in the United States. In Natchez, the emancipation of enslaved people of African descent began in July 1863. The park will display the luminary on June 19 until 9 p.m., and staff will present a commemorative program at 7:30 p.m. The Melrose front gate will close at 5 p.m. on Friday and reopen from 7 to 9:30 p.m. Visitors should park in the main parking lot and walk to the lower portion of the front lawn where an area will be set aside specifically for solemn reflection. The park encourages the public to bring lawn chairs and flashlights.
Throughout the day on June 19, park staff will offer a variety of children’s activities and provide tours of the Melrose mansion that focus on the African American experience. Melrose house tours take place seven days a week at 10 and 11 a.m. and 2, 3 and 4 p.m. The cost for adults is $11 while children 17 and under can go on the tours for free. Tour tickets can be purchased at Melrose or in advance online at Recreation.gov. Visitors will also be able to experience the exhibit in the Melrose slave quarters, “Through the Labor of Others: the McMurrans as Enslavers.” Visit the park’s website for more information.
nps.gov
About the National Park Service. Established in 1916, the National Park Service preserves America’s most treasured natural and cultural places for the enjoyment, education and inspiration of current and future generations. Learn more at nps.gov.
Last updated: June 8, 2026