Shockoe Hill African Burying Ground in Richmond, Virginia

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Get directions 1305 N 5th St
Richmond, Virginia 23219 United States

Coordinates: 37.55199, -77.42837
Cemetery ID:

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The Shockoe Hill African Burying Ground was established by the city of Richmond in 1816. It was city's second municipal burial ground for people of African decent. The first was the Burial Ground for Negroes, also called the African Burial Ground, in Shockoe Bottom, which was closed upon the opening of this new burying ground on Shockoe Hill.

The Shockoe Hill African Burying Ground began as two separate (1 acre) burying grounds, initially called the "Burying Ground for Free People of Colour" and the "Burying Ground for Negroes" (the enslaved). Over time, the burial ground was increased in size to at least 31 acres. It is conservatively estimated to have received upwards of 22,000 burials, and was/is likely the largest burial ground for free people of color and the enslaved in the United States. However, it is not recognizable as a burial ground today. It has suffered many abuses during the course of its history, and was made to disappear from the visual landscape long ago. It remains threatened to this day.

For more information about the Shockoe Hill African Burying Ground, visit the following sites:

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Shockoe_Hill_African_Burying_Ground#:~:text=The%20Shockoe%20Hill%20African%20Burying,at%205th%20and%20Hospital%20St.

https://www.richmondcemeteries.org/potters-field/

https://www.sacredgroundproject.net/p/2nd-african-burial-ground.html

https://www.facebook.com/2ndAfricanBurialGround/