Reedy Chapel's Storied Past and Cultural Impact
Reedy Chapel, located at 20th Street and Broadway in Galveston, is a historic church that played a role in the announcement of the Emancipation Proclamation in Texas on June 19, 1865, a date now celebrated as Juneteenth. Established in 1848 and known as the "Mother Church of Texas," it became the first African Methodist Episcopal Church in the state and hosted the first two annual conferences of the AME Church. Despite being rebuilt after the Great Fire of 1885 and damaged by the 1900 storm, Reedy Chapel remains an active community space and houses one of the oldest pipe organs in Texas.
Follow Galveston Unscripted on Spotify or Apple Podcasts! More history content on Visit Galveston!
You Might Like
