Booker T. Washington's Birthplace

Booker T. Washington's Birthplace. . , Booker T. Washington, the renowned African-American leader and educator, was born into slavery on this plantation and freed here after the Civil War ended. At this national monument, you can learn about his childhood in slavery, living here with his family and other enslaved Africans., This plantation was owned by the James Burroughs family when Booker T. Washington lived on this property. As was typical in 19th century rural Virginia, Burroughs family members were buried in the family cemetery on their land. The enslaved people were not buried in this plot. Even in death, slavery's social hierarchy was maintained. After the Civil War, however, James H. Starkey (July, 1899, 1900), infant son of African-American Nellie G. Starkey, was buried in the Burroughs Cemetery. Booker T. Washington is buried on the campus of Tuskegee University, where he carried out his life's work., The start of the Civil War in April 1861 saw five of the Burroughs sons join up to fight for the Confederacy. James Burrough, the family patriarch, died in July shortly after they enlisted. Two of his sons, Christopher Frank and John William (Billie), died during the war., (caption) , You can see the Burroughs' fenced-in cemetery over the ridge and to the left.