Contrabands and Freedmen Cemetery Memorial

When the Civil War started and the Union took Alexandria many escaped slaves, called Contraband, poured into the city to escape their former masters. This overcrowding caused a high mortality rate. The soldiers seized a undeveloped plot of land and turned it into a cemetery. More than 1,700 Freedmen and Contrabands were buried here, Of course it was forgotten, built on, and many of the graves were destroyed. Rediscovered in 1996 it is now a monunment, From what I understand about 500 graves still exist and many of the markers on the ground had only 'Grave Of An Adult' on it. BUT the lists of names suggest more knowledge of who was buried. Mostly because many of their descendants were found. Oh, is that crow or a raven?

On a random walk noticed the Freedmans cemetary. It's an amazing piece of history and culture. Very happy that we saw this place. It's small but the history and reflection provided is worth a visit. They also have a listing of the people buried there and and nice little fact on if their descendants have been found.

Very sobering experience. The monument is an excellent tribute. Tickets not necessary.

Wow.. interesting and powerful history. It’s so meaningful and it gives you a bigger perspective.

It's a small place with a very powerful message. A must visit.

It’s beautiful place and I’m so thankful that something like this preserved for the public to learn about. African-American history is American history and it’s wonderful to honor the slaves and freedmen that built this city and country.

An amazing hidden treasure full of history! I got chills standing in an ancestral burial place!

Last year my wife and I were walking the new bridge. We arrived at the Virginia side of it to see this historic monument. To my surprise I saw a man walking his dog in the cemetery. He allowed it to poop there. I asked him if it was okay that I poop on your anscestors graves? He got mad. Virginia allows whites and others to disrespect this monument by allowing their dogs to poop on it.

There are parts of our nation's history that can be painful to remember, but without honoring the trauma and failings of our past, we cannot build a more just and equitable future. We came upon the Contrabands and Freedmen Memorial Cemetery on a walk from Jones Point Park. The haunting sculpture on the grounds drew us in to examine the inscriptions and gravestones. Among those who are buried here are individuals who tried to run from the horrors of enslavement or who died shortly after the Civil War. The bronze plaque reads that many died of disease and starvation. Half of those buried in this cemetery were children. Because African American individuals were not allowed to be buried in the main cemeteries, the names of those who perished were not recorded on the stones. Many of the markers that were later added simply read "child." We cannot erase the mistakes of how we have treated our fellow human beings. It is important not to forget the evils of slavery and the impact it has had on millions around the world. This final resting place is a powerful reminder that we must always work toward a better world for all people.

Right before you hit the Capital Beltway, you'll find a small cemetery across the street from Alexandria's oldest Catholic cemetery, St. Mary's. Contrabands and Freedmen Memorial Cemetery is a 2014 memorial on the original cemetery founded in 1864 as the burial grounds of people who escaped slavery and found refuge in Union-controlled Alexandria. For five years, people (more than half children) were buried in the cemetery. In fact, members of the U.S. Colored Troops were first buried here until it was demanded they be buried in the Soldiers' Cemetery with all other Civil War soldiers. It became the first civil rights protest in the city and they won! Fast forward less than one hundred years and the cemetery disappeared from city maps. A gas station and later an office building were built on top of the cemetery. Then a group of activists convinced the city to buy the land and build a memorial on top protecting the site. It opened in 2014. The memorial itself includes a statue and an area that tells the stories and honors those buried here and the plight of Black Alexandrians. It's a must-visit site that many unfortunately miss.

The Contrabands and Freedmen Memorial Cemetery is a very powerful and strong felt memorial located in Alexandria, Virginia. This historic grave site is the burial grounds to the brave freedmen who escaped slavery and fought during the civil war. There is no fee to enter, and the memorial is dedicated to Harriet Jacobs the well known abolitionist and educator who resided here in Alexandria. The site is made up by a small plaza that contains a monument. I visited the site on 7/10/2016 and I was fascinated by the expression of the monument and the story behind the burial site. The cemetery itself has a very harsh and eye-tearing history. This is definitely a place of reflection, and a place that we should all visit to get context and clarity of the troubles we face today. The history of the site itself will break your heart.

A very moving memorial to the enslaved people who died escaping their enslavement by getting to Union occupied Alexandria during the Civil War. Once they got there, many died of disease and malnutrition. Most who were buried here were the old, and the young. The area was "lost" as a cemetery, used for a gas station, and office buildings. Don't tell me that they didn't discover human remains when they dug for those. Recently, the existence of this cemetery was rediscovered. Careful research turned up lists and accounts of those that were buried. Approximate locations of the graves was also determined. The area has been cleared off, and restored to grass, although the underground tanks from the gas station remain. As much as possible, the location of graves have been marked, including those that are now covered by the roadway. A powerful, towering sculpture provides a focal point. and a well done memorial explains the site, and those who were buried there. I was moved by the effort of the City of Alexandria to bring back dignity and significance to the human lives represented by this cemetery.