Southwest Quadrant in Alexandria, Virginia — The American South (Mid-Atlantic)
African American Heritage Park
City of Alexandria, Virginia Est. 1749
| | Alexandria Heritage Trail | |
Dedicated in 1995, the African American Heritage Park celebrates Black individuals, organizations, institutions, and movements that helped build and shape the city and community. The park preserves the one-acre Black Baptist Cemetery that was established in 1885 by the Silver Leaf Society.
Alexandria's rich African American history is reflected in this memorial park. Sculpture and interpretive signage throughout the park provide stories and opportunities for dialogue and reflection. Interpretive signs focusing on the important themes of Sanctuary, Freedom, Civil Rights, and Remembrance, along with sculptures by Jerome Meadows, serve to highlight and accomplishments in the City and the people known and unknown buried on this site.
The African American community of Alexandria had a rich and varied social life lived parallel to the other community, but their stories were rarely brought to public recognition.
William D. "Bill" Emille,
Alexandria Mayor (2013)
1. Orientation Sign (Your Are Here)
2. Sanctuary Sign
3. Freedom Sign
4. Civil Rights Sign
5. Wetland Sculpture by Jerome Meadows identifying free Black neighborhoods in Alexandria
6. Memorial Trees and Remembrance Sign
7. Orientation Sign
8. Black BaptistCemetery
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9. Truths that Rise from the Roots Remembered by Jerome Meadows detailing a history of Education, Religion, Civil Rights, and Business, and African Americans buried in the Park
10. Gazebo Sculpture with a brief history of the Park
11. Legacy Grove
Erected 2025 by City of Alexandria, Virginia.
Topics and series. This historical marker is listed in these topic lists: African Americans • Arts, Letters, Music • Cemeteries & Burial Sites • Parks & Recreational Areas. In addition, it is included in the Virginia, The City of Alexandria series list. A significant historical year for this entry is 1995.
Location. 38° 47.983′ N, 77° 3.617′ W. Marker is in Alexandria, Virginia. It is in the Southwest Quadrant. It is on Holland Lane south of Eisenhower Avenue, on the right when traveling north. Touch for map. Marker is at or near this postal address: 1600 Eisenhower Ave, Alexandria VA 22314, United States of America. Touch for directions.
Regionally, this marker is in the Washington Metropolitan Area and in Northern Virginia. It is also in the American South, specifically in the Upper South, and in the Mid-Atlantic. 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 markers are within walking distance of this marker: Sanctuary (within shouting distance of this marker); Freedom (about 600 feet away, measured in a direct line); Civil Rights (about 700 feet away); Alexandria National Cemetery (approx. 0.2 miles away); Old Presbyterian Meeting House
Credits. This page was last revised on July 28, 2025. It was originally submitted on July 28, 2025, by Devry Becker Jones of Washington, District of Columbia. This page has been viewed 70 times since then and 9 times this year. Photos: 1, 2. submitted on July 28, 2025, by Devry Becker Jones of Washington, District of Columbia.
