Marietta College Hosts Juneteenth National Independence Day Celebration
Abraham Lincoln and Frederick Douglass reenactment and traditional West African drumming featured at the Friday, June 13 event
Marietta, OH (06/10/2025) — President Abraham Lincoln and Frederick Douglass will speak on the Marietta College campus on Friday, June 13 at 5:30 p.m. during a free community celebration commemorating Juneteenth National Independence Day. Actor Michael Crutcher explained the living history presentations as an "attempt to bring the past to life and to place listeners into the past; to make them feel the emotions, both the hurt and the joy, that people felt in that time."
The free event is open to the public at the Hermann Fine Arts Center on Butler Street.
Although the federal holiday is officially recognized on June 19, this early celebration offers a meaningful opportunity to honor the historical significance of Juneteenth-the day in 1865 when the last enslaved African Americans in Galveston, Texas, were informed of their freedom, more than two years after the Emancipation Proclamation was issued. Today, Juneteenth serves as a powerful reminder of resilience, liberation, and the ongoing pursuit of justice and equality in the United States.
Living Historian Michael Crutcher will bring Frederick Douglass to life at the event. The former professor and retired U.S. Army veteran has been reenacting the historic figure's principles for audiences around the world for more than a decade. Crutcher's Douglass will share the stage with Abraham Lincoln, as portrayed by Lew Welge. Welge has been appearing as Lincoln since 2003.
In addition to the guest speakers, Lawrence Greene will present a live demonstration of traditional West African rhythms using djembes and djun drums.
Attendees will receive free educational materials and literature exploring the historical context of the Emancipation Proclamation, its local relevance, and the broader impact of Juneteenth on American society.
The celebration is co-sponsored by the Mid-Ohio Valley Civil War Round Table, the Noto Family Fund for Diversity and Inclusion, Noto Family Fund for Diversity in the Arts, and the Ohio Foundation of Independent Colleges.
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Michael Crutcher as Frederick Douglass
Lew Welge as Abraham Lincoln
Marietta College
Dr. Linda Lockhart, Interim Executive Director of Marketing & Communication (740) 376-4598, LLL004@marietta.eduShare this Story
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