AUSTIN (KXAN) — Austin’s Pease Park is celebrating the major milestone of 150 years on Monday morning.
On this day 150 years ago, former Texas Governor Elisha Pease and his wife Lucadia donated the initial 23 acres of what would become Austin’s first public park, according to the Pease Park Conservancy.
At Monday’s event, City Council Member Marc Duchen will present a city proclamation.
In addition to the celebration, Pease Park Conservancy said this milestone jumpstarted an eight-month research project into the people who were enslaved by Gov. Pease before emancipation and the land donation. This project was supported by a city Heritage Preservation Grant and done in partnership with Black Austin Tours and Art Is Cool.
“Research has found that more than 37 unique individuals were directly enslaved or leased as enslaved labor by Governor Pease,” the Pease Park Conservancy website said.
Austinites will be able to learn about this history of slavery during the Pease Park History Tours, which will be offered twice a month starting this fall, according to the conservancy.
Credit: Source link
