African American Heritage Memorial

African American Heritage Memorial. . , [Plaque on the left side of the entrance:] , From the establishment of Alexandria in 1749 to the present time, African Americans have been a vibrant part of this city's history. The City of Alexandria would not exist in its present form were it not for the economic, social, and cultural contributions of African Americans both slave and free. As Alexandria developed in the 19th century, African Americans began to establish enclaves with distinctive names and characteristics. Many of these areas such as: The Berg, The Bottoms, Cross Canal, Hayti, The Hump, Sunnyside, and Uptown survive today and retain historical significance for African Americans currently living in Alexandria. From these original African American neighborhoods a sense of community developed, which let to the creation of churches, schools, civic and social organizations. these memorial sculptures in this park highlight people and institutions important to Alexandria's African American heritage., The land for this memorial is of special significance. In 1885 this parcel of land was purchased by the Black Baptist Cemetery Association and a number of grave sites remain here. Hooff's Run, which runs through this site provided access to the Potomac River and the town of Alexandria for a variety of traders and retailers. By the middle of the 19th century, railroads provided a new transportation system. Established about 1851, the first railroad in this vicinity was the Orange and Alexandria which passed through this land on its way from the town center to more western ports of Virginia., The Norfolk Southern Corporation has set aside this land as a memorial to recognize and celebrate and commemorate African American contributions to the Alexandria community. The Alexandria African American Heritage Park, a gift to the City from the Norfolk Southern Corporation, will contribute to the rich cultural heritage of Alexandria. The history and accomplishments of African American leaders will stimulate young people to develop esteem, hope, determination and pride in themselves. The memorial park coexists with the original landscape of the cemetery and preserves the interesting and varied plant life on this site. The design creates an atmosphere suitable for nature walks or meditation., [Plaque on the right side of the entrance:] , Truths That Rise From The Roots , Remembered. , We bury more than our bodies at rest , Deep within the forgiving soil , We bury as well our struggles and triumphs , Our dreams, our legends, our revelry, our toil , Here is where we enshrine our wisdom , To be joined with that of our yesteryears , And here is where our tomorrows are planted , As lessons learned against future fears, The artistic works incorporated into this Memorial/Park offer symbolic testament to the efforts and accomplishments of a great many local individuals, institutions and organizations both past and present. The names and images etched upon these forms, as acknowledgment of but some of those who have 'passed this way before', represent the foundation, the builders, the source and substance of this historic and vibrant community. As a context in which history and art are joined this public-art setting serves as a cultural marker , a communal space in which the sons and daughters of the here and now celebrate and honor the heroes of their past., Jerome B. Meadows , Artist, Zoe Briscoe , Research, Technical Assistant, Park Design , EDAW, [Etching to the right of the plaque:] , Odd Fellows, 1869 , Magnus Temple , 3, 1869 , Lincoln Lodge , 11, 1875 , Universal Lodge , 1, 1895, Aaron McKinney , Rev. Samuel M. Johnson, [Sculpture on the east side of the park:] , African-American Neighborhoods, Hayti , Uptown , The Hump , The Bottoms , The Berg or Fishtown , Across the Canal (Cross Canal), [Sculpture on the west side of the park:] , Black Baptist Cemetery Association 1885, From the past they speak, , in varied voice and , familiar faces, Mary Rome , Matilda Gaines , Sarah Hunter , Abraham Hunter , Julia Ann Washington, [Pillar nearest to the sculpture, left side:] , Education. , Alexandria Academy, Washington Free School, Mt. Hope Academy 1837-1843 , Alfred Perry, Sylvia Morris, Lancasterian School, Society of Friends, American Baptist Free Mission Society, Mary Chase 1861, Saint Robe Institute 1881 , Jane A. Crouch , Miss Sarah Gray, First Select Colored School 1862 , Rev. and Mrs. Robinson , Rev. G.W. Parker , Amanda Borden, The First Free Colored Mission Day School 1863, Union Town School 1863 , Nancy Williams, The Primary School 1863 , William K. Harris , Richard H. Lyles, Newtown School 1863 , Anna Bell Davis , Leannah Powell, The Sickles Barricks School 1863, The Jacobs Free School 1864 , Louisa Jacobs , Harriet Jacobs , Miss S.Y. Lawton , Miss E.M. Lawton<, First National Freedmen's School 1864, Harriet Byron Douglass 1864, Second National Freedmen's School , Rev. M.F. Sluby , Laura Phenix, Miss M.F. Simms, Mary M. Nickens, The Washington St. School , Miss L.V. Lewis, [Pillar nearest to the sculpture, right side:] , Education. , Pennsylvania Freedmen's Relief Association 1865, Bureau of Refugees, Freedmen and Abandoned Lands, Gustavus Lumpkins 1867, First Free School Society of Alexandria , George Seaton , George W. Bryant , Anthony L. Perpener , Hannibal King , James Piper , George P. Douglas , John H. Davis , Samuel W. Madden , J. Mck. Ware , Charles Watson , George W. Parker , Rev. Clem Robinson , George W. Sims, Snowden School for Boys , William F. Powell , Carrie Claggett , John Parker , Patrick H. Lumpkins, Hallowell School for Girls , Matilda A. Madden, Parker-Gray School 1920 , Henry T. White , Laura Dorsey , Susie P. Madden , Margaret T. Young , Sarah D. Gray , Harriet Thornton , James B. Howard , Rozier D. Lyles , Mamie E. Anderson , Rev. A.W. Adkins , Wesley Elam , William Pitts , Ferris Holland , Louis Johnson , Edward L. Patterson , John T. Butler, Lyles-Crouch Elementary School , Julia Pritchett, Seminary School , Geraldine Stevenson, St. Joseph's Catholic School , The Oblate Sisters of Providence , Sister Mary John Bearchmann , Sister Mary Eusebius, Charles Houston Elementary School , Helen L. Davis, Martha Millier-Kindergarten, Saretta N. Cope-Kindergarten, [Second pillar from the sculpture, left side:] , Religion. , Alfred Street Baptist Church 1801 , Jesse Henderson , Evans Williams , Daniel Taylor , Rev. Samuel Madden , Rev. Alexander A. Truatt , Rev. Andrew W. Adkins, "Old Zion" Methodist Church 1832, Roberts Memorial United Methodist Church 1832 , James Harper , Francis Hoy , James Evans , Philip Hamilton , Simon Turley , Rev. James Thomas , Rev. Robert H. Robinson , Rev. James Howard, Beulah Baptist Church 1863 , Rev. Clem Robinson, Zion Baptist Church 1864 , Rev. Robert Woodson, Pastor, Shiloh Baptist Church 1865 , Rev. Charles H. Rodgers , Rev. Leland Warring, Second Baptist Church, Third Baptist Church 1865 , Rev. Samuel Stewart , Rev. Samuel Ross, Meade Memorial Espiscopal Church 1869 , Rev. J.W.M. Powell , Canon John G. Davis, Ebenezer Baptist 1880 , Rev. Field Cooke , Rev. L. Henry Bailey , Rev. W. Howard Stanton , Rev. N.B. Hargraves , Rev. Austin A. Booker, Good Shepard Episcopal Chapel 1880, St. Cyprian's Episcopal Mission, [Second pillar from the sculpture, right side:] , Religion. , Mt. Jezreel 1890 , Rev. Coleman , Rev. O.L. Miles, Oakland Baptist Church 1891 , Rev. E.R. Jackson , Clara Adams , William Carpenter , Brook Johnson , William Jerrell , John W. Casey , Maggie Hall , Smith Wahler , Daniel Simms, Jr. , Nancy Shepherd , Harriet Short , Matilda Woods , Mollie Nelson, St. Joseph's Catholic Church 1915 , Thomas Blair , Katie Bowman , Carrie Crouch , John Johnson , John Parker, Tabernacle of God and Saints of Christ 1921, St. John's Baptist Church 1926, Rev. and Mrs. J.G. West , Deacon David Askew , Deacon Raymond , Deacon Holmes, Bethel Presbyterian Church, Community Presbyterian Church 1928 , Rev. Richard B. Strong, United House of Prayer, Russell Temple C.M.E. 1941, Alleyne AME Zion Church 1949 , Rev. Frederick Douglass Williams , Rev. Grayson Kelch, [Third pillar from the sculpture, left side:] , Civic. , Thomas Fuller - 1789 , Bejamin Banneker - 1791 , William Goddard , Dominick Bearcroft , Alexander Bryan - 1833 , Mary Savoy - 1839 , David Jarbour , H. Dulany - 1850 , Mary Cole , John Williams , Moses Hepburn , John Hepburn , Henry Anderson , Charles Watson , George Seaton , John Seaton , Nellie Whiting , Magnus L. Robinson , Norman B. Pinn, Freeman N.M. Murray , The Home News, 1900 , Edmund Hill , W. Walter Jackson , Murray Brothers Printers, 1903 , Raymond H. Murray , F. Morris Murray , Norman D. Murray , Miss. Susie B. Buckner, Florence Murray , Lewis Smith , Samuel A. Tucker , L.H. Williams, Alexandria Home Bakery , John W. Jackson, Margaret Evans , Washington Jackson , Thomas Arrington , Laura Watson , Harriet Ware, [Third pillar from the sculpture, right side:] , Civic. , Professor T.E. Dulany , C. William Gray , W.C. Arnold , Lloyd Lewis , Richard N. Poole , Henry Brooks , Mrs. Mattie Brooks , Mrs. Katie Skinner , Mrs. Lorraine Funn Atkins , Mrs. Annie B. Rose , Mrs. Connie Chissell , George Gaddis , Arthur Bracey, Library Sit-In - 1939 , B. Wilbert Tucker , Morris Murray , Edward Gaddis , Clarence "Buck" Strange , Sgt. George Watson, Doctors , Albert Johnson - 1892 , J. Milton Hopkins - c. 1894 , Frederick P. barrier - c. 1917 , Oswald Durant , Henry Ladrey , C. Aubrey Lindo , Abe Penn , Paul Piper , Charles West , Herbert G. Chissell , James Carpenter , Newman C. Taylor , Frederick Perry , W. Lee Harris , Elijah E. Lacey , T. Bernard Blue , William Skinner, Lawyers , James Webster , Thomas Watson , William Macmurray , J. Byron Hopkins , Alfred Collins , Judge Joseph Waddy , James Raby