African Burial Ground National Monument, New York, United States

African Burial Ground National Monument is a monument at Duane Street and African Burial Ground Way (Elk Street) in the Civic Center section of Lower Manhattan. Its main building is the Ted Weiss Federal Building at 290 Broadway. The site contains the remains of more than 419 Africans buried during the late 17th and 18th centuries in a portion of what was the largest colonial-era cemetery for people of African descent, some free, most enslaved. Historians estimate there may have been as many as 10,000–20,000 burials in what was called the Negroes Burial Ground in the 1700s. The five to six acre site's excavation and study was called 'the most important historic urban archaeological project in the United States.' The Burial Ground site is New York's earliest known African-American cemetery; studies show an estimated 15,000 African American people were buried here.

The discovery highlighted the forgotten history of enslaved Africans in colonial and federal New York City, who were integral to its development. By the American Revolutionary War, they constituted nearly a quarter of the population in the city. New York had the second-largest number of enslaved Africans in the nation after Charleston, South Carolina. Scholars and African-American civic activists joined to publicize the importance of the site and lobby for its preservation. The site was designated a National Historic Landmark in 1993 and a national monument in 2006 by President George W. Bush.

In 2003 Congress appropriated funds for a memorial at the site and directed redesign of the federal courthouse to allow for this. A design competition attracted more than 60 proposals. The memorial was dedicated in 2007 to commemorate the role of Africans and African Americans in colonial and federal New York City, and in United States history. Several pieces of public art were also commissioned for the site. A visitor center opened in 2010 to provide interpretation of the site and African-American history in New York.

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User Reviews

Camille Ray (3 months ago)
The visitor center is informative, but feels geared towards a younger audience. The monument itself is stark and austere and oddly peaceful in a busy city. I did visit on a Saturday. It is an ideal setting for meditating on the lives the monument represents.

J Cooper. (3 months ago)
Uplifting and sad all at once. Ask yourself without getting too upset, "How could they do this to us without compassion for human life." It's a wonderful place to visit. "I LIVE with an ALTRUISTIC HEART." How would you've felt if roles were reversed? You would be upset too.... Visit!

David Brainard (3 months ago)
Easy to overlook this place with a powerful and fascinating story while you are in the city but take the time to stop by and learn a piece of our history. The NPS attendants were helpful and the presentation was very well done, especially as much of the story is in the history of the site being rediscovered in the 1990s and the public response. Doesn't take long at all to go through the museum and monument but well worth the time even with all the cool stuff in NYC. ... I have to add a comment in November 2024. Just out is a great BBC story about the history at the time that construction was happening, and the role of Peggy King Jorde in the NYC mayor's office which led to the development of this memorial. Enjoy!

Mark Bradt (3 months ago)
This memorial was put up on the place where thousands upon thousands of former slaves were buried twelve feet deep in mass graves, only to be later (mostly) relocated when the buildings and other infrastructure changes were made. This serves to both make the public aware of this part of often overlooked history and as a memorial to the people and their cultures that were almost erased. Moving.

S. Romero (6 months ago)
This place is a part of American History I hardly learned about growing up in 1960’s and 1970’s! I felt honored to experience this exhibit! As one narrator said, “this is the Ellis Island for the Africans who arrived in America!” As slaves they were abused and suffered tremendously! The movie I saw in their theater brought tears to my eyes! NYC was built on the suffering of these people! I greatly want to thank Ms. Doris for her great customer service and dedication! She was like our personal tour guide! Everyone here had a smile and were courteous; the staff and security guards! May I mention that the entrance is currently free to the public! There is a souvenir shop that uses the proceeds from the sales to support the facility! Please purchase something…just my opinion! Thank you!

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