Booker T. Washington Park was set aside by deed in 1898 as a permanent site for celebrating June 19th, the anniversary of the 1865 emancipation of slaves in Texas. Slaves of this area first heard their freedom announced 2.5 miles south of this site. In the 1860's, when initial celebrations were held here, Limestone County had many able Negro leaders. It sent one of its Negro citizens, Ralph Long, to the Texas Constitutional Convention of 1866, and from among people who lived in this locality at the time of emancipation came Negro legislators Giles Cotton, Dave Medlock, and Sheppard Mullins. Even before land was dedicated for the park here, annual celebrations on June 19th were held at this site. For many years Ralph Long was the featured orator, at times speaking from the bed of a wagon parked in the shade. As many as 20,000 often gathered for the occasion. On July 7, 1912, the 19th of June Organization was chartered to administer the park and perpetuate regional history. The Negro people of Texas showed outstanding initiative in civic leadership, education, culture, and business. In 1860 they numbered 187,921; in 1960 there were 1,187,125 Negroes in the state.