Near Charlottesville in Albemarle County, Virginia — The American South (Mid-Atlantic)
Burial Ground for Enslaved People
Photographed by William Pope, October 13, 2024
1. Burial Ground for Enslaved People Marker
When we came from Virginia we brought one daughter with us, leaving the dust of a son in the soil near Monticello. Madison Hemings, 1873
Many burial grounds for enslaved people remain unknown. Separation of families during slavery and migrations after the Civil War prevented people from caring for graves or remembering their locations. The erasure of these sites is a consequence of slavery and racial discrimination. Burial grounds that endure reveal deep family connections that have withstood the horrors of slavery and the passage of time.
The Thomas Jefferson Foundation has worked with descendants of Monticello's enslaved community to preserve and honor this hallowed ground in recognition of the sacrifices made by those forced to labor at Monticello.
Preservation
Long after the end of slavery, descendants of people buried here, African American employees of Monticello and other community members protected this sacred space by remembering its location and guarding it from damage. Their knowledge saved the burial ground in the 1970's when the Thomas Jefferson Foundation built the surrounding parking lots, a decision
this page online
Commemoration
In 2001, the Thomas Jefferson Foundation formally recognized the burial ground and took initial steps to preserve the site. In 2022, the Foundation undertook a major renovation of the landscape surrounding the burial ground and consultation with the descendants of Monticello's enslaved community.
This burial ground is a sacred space. Descendants of Monticello's enslaved community honor and remember their ancestors at this site. Please approach the burial ground with respect and do not enter the fenced enclosure.
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An 1880 print published in Harper's Weekly shows an African American funeral precession in Virginia. Harpers Weekly, February 27,1880.
Significant location. Situated on a busy plantation road, the burial ground was visible and easily accessible by the plantation community. Its location away from any known slave dwellings suggest shared use by many families. Because Thomas Jefferson enslaved over 400 people at Monticello, enslaved African Americans may have used other burial grounds on the plantation. Thomas Jefferson Foundation at Monticello
Graveyard Plan. Archaeologists identified 20 of the more than 40 graves thought to exist by carefully recording all visible depressions, excavating to document burial shafts, and establish the burial ground's boundaries. When excavating, they only confirmed locations of the graves and did not disturb the burials. The Thomas Jefferson Foundation at Monticello
Erected by Thomas
Photographed by William Pope, October 13, 2024
2. Burial Ground for Enslaved People Marker
Topics. This historical marker is listed in these topic lists: African Americans • Anthropology & Archaeology • Cemeteries & Burial Sites • Colonial Era. A significant historical date for this entry is February 27, 1880.
Location. 38° 0.27′ N, 78° 27.167′ W. Marker is near Charlottesville, Virginia, in Albemarle County. It can be reached from Monticello Loop 0.2 miles north of Thomas Jefferson Parkway (Virginia Route 53), on the right. This marker is located on the grounds of Monticello Historic Site. Touch for map. Marker is at or near this postal address: 1050 Monticello Loop, Charlottesville VA 22902, United States of America. Touch for directions.
Regionally, this marker is in the Piedmont and in Central Virginia. It is also in the American South and specifically in the Upper South. Globally, it is in 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 markers are within walking distance of this marker: Thomas Jefferson (about 400 feet away, measured in a direct line); Nursery (approx. 0.3 miles away); Charcoal (approx. 0.3 miles away); Joiner's Shop (approx. 0.3 miles away); The Monticello Graveyard (approx. 0.3 miles away); Wood Trades (approx. 0.3 miles away); Nail-Making (approx. 0.3 miles away); Contemplative Site (approx. 0.3 miles away). Touch for a list and map of all markers in Charlottesville.
Also see . . . Monticello. Thomas Jefferson Foundation (Submitted on December 2, 2024.)
Credits. This page was last revised on July 25, 2025. It was originally submitted on November 30, 2024, by William Pope of Marietta, Pennsylvania. This page has been viewed 342 times since then and 44 times this year. Photos: 1, 2. submitted on November 30, 2024, by William Pope of Marietta, Pennsylvania. • Bernard Fisher was the editor who published this page.
