North Side in Richmond, Virginia — The American South (Mid-Atlantic)

Shockoe Hill African Burying Ground

Photographed by Bernard Fisher, June 15, 2022

1. Shockoe Hill African Burying Ground Marker

Inscription. The City of Richmond opened the Shockoe Hill African Burying Ground here in 1816 to replace the Burial Ground for Negroes in Shockoe Bottom, The new cemetery, laid out along the northern end of Fifth Street near the city's poorhouse, began as two adjoining one-acre plots, one for free people of color and one for the enslaved. The grounds expanded greatly over time, eventually spreading down the slopes and into the valley. With an estimated 22,000 interments, it was among the largest cemeteries for free and enslaved African Americans in the U.S. during its era. After closing the cemetery in 1879 due to over-crowding, the city repurposed the site, making the burial ground unrecognizable today.

Erected 2021 by Department of Historic Resources. (Marker Number SA-130.)

Topics. This historical marker is listed in these topic lists: African Americans • Cemeteries & Burial Sites. A significant historical year for this entry is 1816.

Location. 37° 33.124′ N, 77° 25.721′ W. Marker is in Richmond, Virginia. It is in the North Side. It is at the intersection of North 5th Street and Hospital Street, on the right when traveling north on North 5th Street. Touch for map. Marker is at or near this postal address: 1305 N 5th St, Richmond VA 23219, United States of America. Touch for directions.

Regionally, this marker is in Central Virginia.

It is also in the American South

and specifically in the Upper South.

Globally, it is in the North Atlantic Region,

North America,

the Western Hemisphere,

the Western World,

and the Anglosphere.

Historically, it finds itself in what was once the territory of the Mississippian Culture,

one of the original Thirteen Colonies,

one of the Confederate States of America,

and the Antebellum South.

Other nearby markers. At least 8 other

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markers are within walking distance of this marker: A different marker also named Shockoe Hill African Burying Ground (a few steps from this marker); Hebrew Cemetery (about 400 feet away, measured in a direct line); Shockoe Hill Cemetery (about 600 feet away); a different marker also named Shockoe Hill Cemetery (about 700 feet away); Union POW Memorial (about 700 feet away); a different marker also named Shockoe Hill Cemetery (about 700 feet away); Brown's Island Disaster (approx. 0.2 miles away); "The Great Chief Justice" (approx. 0.2 miles away). Touch for a list and map of all markers in Richmond.

Also see . . .
1. Shockoe Hill African Burying Ground. (Submitted on June 15, 2022.)
2. Shockoe Hill African Burying Ground. Wikipedia (Submitted on June 15, 2022.)

Photographed by Bernard Fisher, June 15, 2022

2. Shockoe Hill African Burying Ground Marker

Photographed by Bernard Fisher, June 15, 2022

3. Shockoe Hill African Burying Ground Marker

Hebrew Cemetery across the street image. Click for full size.

Photographed by Bernard Fisher, June 15, 2022

4. Hebrew Cemetery across the street

Fifth Street Viaduct image. Click for full size.

Photographed by Bernard Fisher, June 15, 2022

5. Fifth Street Viaduct

Credits. This page was last revised on February 16, 2023. It was originally submitted on June 15, 2022, by Bernard Fisher of Richmond, Virginia. This page has been viewed 935 times since then and 49 times this year. Photos: 1, 2, 3, 4, 5. submitted on June 15, 2022, by Bernard Fisher of Richmond, Virginia.