Illinois officials are celebrating "Juneteenth" — the day set aside to remember the end of slavery in America.
Gov. Pat Quinn plans to mark the day at the DuSable Museum of African American History. He'll honor the founder of the museum, Jean Baptiste Pointe du Sable, a Haitian fur trader.
Officials also plan songs, poetry and speeches during an event at the Thompson Center in Chicago. Juneteenth traces its history back to the day that slaves in Galveston, Texas, learned the Civil War had ended and they were free.
The holiday is celebrated in 36 states and is also called Freedom Day or Emancipation day.
Officially, the anniversary is June 19th, but officials are celebrating a day early, on Friday the 18th.
Copyright AP - Associated Press
