Observed each year on June 19, Juneteenth commemorates the moment in 1865 when the last enslaved African Americans in the United States were informed of their freedom. This Congo drum, featured in our Drumsville! exhibit, represents the enduring musical traditions carried to New Orleans by people of African descent. During the 18th and 19th centuries, Congo Square was one of the few places in the United States where both enslaved and free Africans were allowed to gather publicly. On Sundays, they came together to drum, dance, and share cultural practices—preserving rhythms, movements, and stories that would become the foundation of uniquely American musical forms, including jazz. Instruments like this drum were central to those gatherings, where music served as a powerful tool for cultural continuity, resilience, and creative expression. As we recognize both Juneteenth and Black Music Month, we invite you to explore the rhythms and stories that continue to shape the music of New Or...