The Montana Historical Society, The Myrna Loy, and the Holter Museum of Art are teaming up on Saturday, June 17, to celebrate Juneteenth National Freedom Day. All the events take place, or leave from, The Myrna Loy at 15 No. Ewing.
The free celebration kicks off with an African American history tour of Helena on the tour train from 5 to 6 p.m. Advanced registration is required at https://bit.ly/HelenaJuneteenthTour. At the same time, the documentary “Bicycle Corps: America’s Black Army on Wheels” will be shown. It tells the story of the 25th Infantry’s 1897 bicycle trip from Missoula to Missouri, as part of a test to see if bikes could replace horses in transporting Army troops.
The Holter’s After-school Teen Art Council invites all to celebrate Juneteenth by creating their own art from 6 to 9 p.m. Chalk and concrete canvasses will be provided. From 6:30 to 7 p.m., join Helena Mayor Wilmot Collins, Chris Young-Greer, and J.P. Williams in recognizing the holiday. Young-Greer is works for the Montana Racial Equity Project and Williams is a descendant of African American Montana pioneer Lafayette Mundy (1841 -1910), who served in the U.S. Army from 1864 to 1881.
Lastly, dance to tunes from DJ Andrea Cross Guns during a street party from 7 to 9:30 p.m. Food and drink will be available from The Myrna Loy Pub and Habana 406 Food Truck starting at 5:30 p.m.