121:, the Shockoe Bottom African Burial Ground (old Burial Ground for Negroes) was closed to new burials, and the site immediately repurposed by the city. First constructed on the site was the Lancastrian School in 1816, and later the city jail was also constructed there. The burial ground was made to completely disappear from the visible landscape and also from memory. That was until a local historian, Elizabeth Kambourian rediscovered it on a map in the 1990s. At that time the burial ground had become a parking lot, which was purchased by Virginia Commonwealth University (VCU) in about 2004. Activists quickly organized and actively became involved in the struggle for the reclamation of the burial ground. An important group formed from and for this struggle was the
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described the appalling conditions of the burial ground in his 1810 book "A Short
History of the Life of Christopher McPherson, Alias Pherson, Son of Christ, King of Kings and Lord of Lords. Containing a Collection of Certificates, Letters, &c. Written by Himself." The book was republished in 1855. McPherson, wrote and circulated the petition that was submitted to the Richmond City Council requesting a new burial ground for the free people of color in the city of Richmond. The petition eventually led to the establishment of what was referred to on the city of Richmond's 1816 Plan of its property located at the Poorhouse, as the Burying Ground for Free People of Colour, and the Burying Ground for Negroes - (enslaved) - now called the "
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becoming the white burying ground (along with other purposes). The parcel in
Shockoe Valley was intended for Black burials. The Burial Ground for Negroes, the name by which the Shockoe Bottom African Burial Ground appeared on the 1809 Plan of the City of Richmond by Richard Young, became also the site of city
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The
Shockoe Bottom African Burial Ground, or (African Burial Ground in Shockoe Bottom, as it currently appears on Google Maps) known historically as the "Burial Ground for Negroes" and the "old Powder Magazine ground", is the older of two municipal burial grounds established for the interment of free
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The parcel on which the Burial Ground for
Negroes was established, was on or close to the banks of the Shockoe Creek. Its location was poorly suited for a burial ground. Each hard rain caused disruption, washing bodies into the creek. Christopher McPherson, a formerly enslaved free person of color,
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the leader of the great slave rebellion, and all those who gave their lives in the cause of freedom. It is also a celebration of the more than 20 years of learning the history of this sacred ground. The event also serves as a re-dedication to reclamation and the proper memorization of the area of
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In 1799 the city of
Richmond purchased two parcels of land on which it would establish its municipal burying grounds. A 28 1/2 acre parcel was acquired on the northern end of Shockoe Hill, and a much smaller parcel in Shockoe Valley. The Parcel on Shockoe Hill was purchased for the purpose of
109:, or Gabriel's Conspiracy, and 25 of his followers were executed and buried in 1800. Though further research suggests that the execution of Gabriel, and also the execution of his followers, occurred in a different location. The actual sites of burial are unknown.
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Utsey, Shawn, Director, "Meet Me In The Bottom: The
Struggle to Reclaim Richmond's African Burial Ground", produced by Virginia Commonwealth University, Department of African American Studies and Burn Baby Burn Productions,
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The
Shockoe Bottom African Burial Ground was thought to have been established as early as 1750, however a land deed for the property supports a 1799 founding. It was closed to new burials in 1816 upon the opening of the
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after 1804. The 1809 Plan shows it to be the location of the powder magazine as well. In recent times, the
African Burial Ground was thought to be where Gabriel, the leader of a famous slave rebellion, known as
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McPherson, Christopher, A Short
History of the Life of Christopher McPherson, Alias Pherson, Son of Christ, King of Kings and Lord of Lords. Containing a Collection of Certificates, Letters, &c. Written by
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in 2002 and, perhaps, before. This commemoration continues to pay homage on the Trail of
Enslaved Africans and at the Shockoe Bottom African Burial Ground annually. Additionally, the
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people of color and the enslaved in the city of Richmond, Virginia. It is located at 1554 E Broad St. (alternate address 1520 E Marshall St.), across from the site of
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Worsham, Gibson & Worsham Richard, Urban Scale Richmond, "The Location of Richmond’s first African-American Burial Ground", December 3, 2015
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Williams, Michael Paul, Richmond Times-Dispatch, "Williams: The Shockoe Project is about our past and our future", March 2, 2024
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Smith, Ryan K., "Death & Rebirth in a Southern City, Richmond's Historic Cemeteries", Johns Hopkins University Press, 2020
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The first public acknowledgment of the Shockoe Bottom African Burial Ground, then covered over with asphalt, occurred during
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Bates, Micajah (1835). "Plan of the City of Richmond Drawn From Actual Survey and Regional Plans". University of Virginia.
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Library of Virginia, Gabriel's Conspiracy, African American Burial Grounds, 9 of 9, Dr. Philip Schwarz, March 8, 2013
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The Virginia Defender, 20TH ANNUAL GABRIEL GATHERING SET FOR OCTOBER 10 AT SHOCKOE BOTTOM AFRICAN BURIAL GROUND
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The Collegian, Community gathers for 20th Annual Gabriel Gathering at Shockoe Bottom African Burial Ground
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Black Agenda Report, Commemorating Gabriel's Rebellion at the African Burial Ground in Richmond, Virginia
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is the larger of the two burial grounds, and is located a mile and a half away at 1305 N 5th St, on
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Young, Richard, 1809 Plan of the City of Richmond, Library of Virginia, Google Arts & Culture
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gba Folklore Society guides cultural history tours that include a tribute to this burial ground.
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Radio IQ, Richmond couple reflects on 20 years leading the fight to memorialize Shockoe Bottom
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Death and Rebirth in a Southern City, Richmond's Historic Cemeteries, by Ryan K. Smith, 2020
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Lynchburg, VA: Christopher McPherson Smith. Printed at The Virginian Job Office, 1855.
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Urban Scale Richmond, The Location of Richmond’s first African-American Burial Ground
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Meet Me In The Bottom: The Struggle to Reclaim Richmond's African Burial Ground
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Get Your Asphalt Off My Ancestors!: Reclaiming Richmond's African Burial Ground
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Sacred Ground Historical Reclamation Project: Richmond African Burial Ground
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Richmond's African Burial Grounds and Historic African American Cemeteries
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Workers World: Virginia Commonwealth U. acknowledges African burial ground
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Elegba Folklore Society's Juneteenth, A Freedom Celebration
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