Community criticizes Juneteenth museum planning and calls for inclusive selection process after Historical Foundation press conference

During the public‑comment period at the Nov. 13 Galveston City Council meeting, Sam Samuel Collins III criticized what he described as "secret" planning and exclusionary practices related to Juneteenth museum planning and urged a transparent selection process for the master plan.

Collins said the October 16 press conference by the Galveston Historical Foundation left many community members out of the planning process and that grassroots contributors who had been working on Juneteenth commemoration efforts since July 2021 were ignored. "The October 16 press conference, held by the Galveston Historical Foundation, was planned in secret and excluded many community members," Collins said, adding the community should be included as equal partners in planning and in selecting any firm for a master plan.

The speaker said elected officials and the Galveston Historical Foundation were attempting to "spin the narrative" that the community was ready to move forward without fully including long‑standing local stakeholders and asked who would sit on the selection committee for the master plan. Collins urged a "fair and transparent process that is inclusive of the entire community."

Council did not respond with a detailed plan at the meeting; the public‑comment record captured the complaint for council and staff follow‑up. Earlier in the meeting the council had issued a proclamation honoring State Representative Terry Leo Wilson for her role in securing $7 million in state funding for a Juneteenth museum; Representative Wilson spoke separately to thank the council and partners and to emphasize educational work on Juneteenth.