Contraband and Freedmen's Cemetery Memorial
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Freedmen's Cemetery served as the burial place for about 1,800 African Americans who fled to Alexandria to escape from bondage during the Civil War. Freedmen's Cemetery was rediscovered in 1987 by City Historian T. Michael Miller. The City Archaeologists researched the possible boundaries of the cemetery. Wesley Pippenger published the names found in the cemetery's record book in 1994, after finding the document in the Virginia Library. The Wilson Bridge Project brought more information to light, including archaeological excavations documenting the graves. The Friends of Freedmen's Cemetery was formed to advocate for return of the land to public ownership, and for a permanent memorial to be created on the land. This is now coming to fruition with the Contraband and Freedmen's Cemetery Memorial Project.
Archaeologists have discovered the locations of more than 500 graves on the site. The excavations have located burials without disturbing any of them, to assist in planning the Memorial Park. Archaeologists discovered that, in the 19th century, the cemetery was dug through an important prehistoric site. While most of the tools are from the Archaic period, Alexandria's earliest artifact, a Paleoindian Clovis Point, was found here.
- Archaeology at the Freedmen's Cemetery Site
- The Clovis Point
- 2007 Excavation Site Photo Gallery
- Freedmen's Cemetery Tour Photos
Archaeologists, historians, volunteers, and the Friends of Freedmen's Cemetery have been working together to piece together the history of the cemetery and the people buried there.
- A Brief History of Freedmen's Cemetery
- Freedmen's Cemetery Brochure (printable version)
- Historical and Genealogical Resources
- Friends of Freedmen's Cemetery
- The Re-Dedication Ceremony, May 12, 2007
- Proclamation: Week of Remembrance of the Freedmen's Cemetery
- News Coverage of Freedmen's Cemetery
Alexandria Archaeology wants to thank the volunteers who worked at the site as well as the city staff, including supervisors, operators, drivers and crew from the Departments of T & ES and Planning who contributed so much to this project.
A special thanks goes to Jim Shifflett and Tom Hickey of the Anderson Company who donated more than 100 trucks loads of dirt to form a protective buffer over the Cemetery.
