Trips Places Foods Stories Newsletters

Take your next trip with Atlas Obscura!

Our small-group adventures are inspired by our Atlas of the world's most fascinating places, the stories behind them, and the people who bring them to life.

Visit Adventures
Trips Highlight
A view of Brașov’s Old Town.
Romania • 12 days, 11 nights
Legends of Romania: Castles, Ruins & Culinary Delights
from
Balkans road trip
Bosnia and Herzegovina • 9 days, 8 nights
Balkans Road Trip: Serbia, Croatia & Bosnia and Herzegovina
from
View all trips
Top Destinations
Latest Places
Most Popular Places Random Place Lists Itineraries
Add a Place
Download the App
Top Destinations
View All Destinations »

Countries

  • Australia
  • Canada
  • China
  • France
  • Germany
  • India
  • Italy
  • Japan

Cities

  • Amsterdam
  • Barcelona
  • Beijing
  • Berlin
  • Boston
  • Budapest
  • Chicago
  • London
  • Los Angeles
  • Mexico City
  • Montreal
  • Moscow
  • New Orleans
  • New York City
  • Paris
  • Philadelphia
  • Rome
  • San Francisco
  • Seattle
  • Stockholm
  • Tokyo
  • Toronto
  • Vienna
  • Washington, D.C.
Latest Places
View All Places »
The ‘Old Secretariat’ government building in New Delhi.
The 'Old Secretariat'
This set is inspired by a Roman arena.
Bozdağ Film Platolari
The Sea Water Distilling Plant.
Sea Water Distilling Plant
Contemplative paths.
Ayo Rock Formations
Latest Places to Eat & Drink
View All Places to Eat »
The pavlova comes crowned with jewel-like fruit.
Central Park Boathouse
The Village Tavern of Long Grove - exterior.
The Village Tavern
Hunter House Hamburgers
L’Escamoteur
Names on the bartop.
The Dive
Recent Stories
All Stories Video Podcast
Most Recent Stories
View All Stories »
Wortley built the wooden backpack she used while retracing Alexandra David-Néel’s journey from a chair she found on the street in London.
How Elise Wortley Climbed Mont Blanc in 1830s Women’s Attire
30 days ago
Simplicity is key: Just a slice of bread with a sprinkling of salt and pepper is the perfect accompaniment.
The Sweet Second Life of Creole Cream Cheese
30 days ago
My rendition of frog legs, popping mushroom curry, pad prik khing with salted egg yolk, and sweet khanom thuai.
Recreating My Favorite Meal From Thailand
30 days ago
Inside London’s Gorgeously Curated ‘Art Restaurants’
about 1 month ago

No search results found for
“”

Make sure words are spelled correctly.

Try searching for a travel destination.

Places near me Random place

Popular Destinations

  • Paris
  • London
  • New York
  • Berlin
  • Rome
  • Los Angeles
Trips Places Foods Stories Newsletters
Sign In Join
Places near me Random place
All the United States Virginia Alexandria Contrabands and Freedmen Cemetery

Contrabands and Freedmen Cemetery

Once forgotten and built over, this historic Black cemetery now houses a poignant memorial.

Alexandria, Virginia

Added By
Charleen Smith-Riedel
Email
Been Here
Want to go
Added to list
Contrabands and Freedmen Cemetery.   smithcharleen / Atlas Obscura User
Contrabands and Freedmen Cemetery.   smithcharleen / Atlas Obscura User
Contrabands and Freedmen Cemetery.   smithcharleen / Atlas Obscura User
Contrabands and Freedmen Cemetery.   smithcharleen / Atlas Obscura User
  Jason Michael Walker / Atlas Obscura User
  Jason Michael Walker / Atlas Obscura User
Entrance Gate   Jason Michael Walker / Atlas Obscura User
  Jason Michael Walker / Atlas Obscura User
  Jason Michael Walker / Atlas Obscura User
  Jason Michael Walker / Atlas Obscura User
  Gr8bertino / Atlas Obscura User
  Jason Michael Walker / Atlas Obscura User
  Jason Michael Walker / Atlas Obscura User
  Jason Michael Walker / Atlas Obscura User
Been Here
Want to go
Added to list

About

This graveyard was opened during the Civil War to bury the contrabands (people who had escaped slavery) and freedmen who were fleeing to Alexandria, a Union-occupied city, on the northern boundary of the Confederacy. Around 1,700 Black Americans were laid to rest within its grounds.

Though the last recorded burial took place in 1869, unofficial burials continued. But its location and purpose were soon all but forgotten by the city. Mention of the cemetery disappeared from maps by the 1940s. The land was sold and resold, and finally a gas station and office building were constructed on the site.

In 1987, mention of the graveyard was rediscovered in old papers. Decades later, the buildings were razed and the site once again became a hallowed place and memorial, though only about one third of the graves remained intact.

A statue at the center called The Path of Thorns and Roses shows people fighting to break free from a snarl of vines, which represents the fight to escape slavery. Walls covered in bronze plaques bearing the names of the buried dead stand nearby, framing the foundation of the former gas station.

This graveyard stands in stark contrast to the graveyard across the street, which is from the same time period and belongs to a white Catholic church.

Related Tags

Black History Cemeteries Graveyards Burial Places

Know Before You Go

If you can't visit, you can use Google Maps to take a virtual tour.

Community Contributors

Added By

smithcharleen

Edited By

Jason Michael Walker, Gr8bertino

  • Jason Michael Walker
  • Gr8bertino

Published

June 28, 2018

Edit this listing

Make an Edit
Add Photos
Sources
  • https://folklife.si.edu/talkstory/a-graveyard-resurrected-contrabands-freedmens-cemetery-alexandria-virginia
  • https://www.alexandriava.gov/FreedmenMemorial
  • https://www.alexandriava.gov/historic/info/default.aspx?id=79445
Contrabands and Freedmen Cemetery
1001 S Washington St
Alexandria, Virginia
United States
38.794533, -77.049656
Get Directions

Nearby Places

World War I-Era Rudder

Alexandria, Virginia

miles away

Wilkes Street Tunnel

Alexandria, Virginia

miles away

The Grave of the Female Stranger

Alexandria, Virginia

miles away

Explore the Destination Guide

Photo of Alexandria

Alexandria

Virginia

Places 34

Nearby Places

World War I-Era Rudder

Alexandria, Virginia

miles away

Wilkes Street Tunnel

Alexandria, Virginia

miles away

The Grave of the Female Stranger

Alexandria, Virginia

miles away

Explore the Destination Guide

Photo of Alexandria

Alexandria

Virginia

Places 34

Related Places

  • Mount Moor Cemetery.

    West Nyack, New York

    Mount Moor Cemetery

    A historic Black graveyard hidden in the parking lot of one of America's largest malls.

  • Eston Hemings’s grave.

    Madison, Wisconsin

    Eston Hemings's Grave

    The final resting place of one of Thomas Jefferson's formerly enslaved sons.

  • Pinehurst and San Sebastian Cemeteries.

    St. Augustine, Florida

    Pinehurst and San Sebastian Cemeteries

    The graves in Florida's oldest Black cemeteries are marked with shells, stones, and mementos of the deceased.

  • The Stecci Cemetery

    Novakovići, Montenegro

    Medieval Slavic Cemetery

    A scattered cemetery of medieval tombstones, each carved with indivdual patterns and scenes, overlooking a bright blue lake.

  • A wooden grave marker at Silver Islet Cemetery.

    Silver Islet, Ontario

    Silver Islet Cemetery

    Carved wooden graves mark the plots at this cemetery in an old mining town.

  • This cemetery stands in stark contrast to its American counterpart.

    La Cambe, France

    Le Cambe German War Cemetery

    This place bears witness to the loss of many lives during WWII, and stands in stark contrast to the American Cemetery.

  • Warblington Gravewatcher’s Hut

    Warblington, England

    Gravewatcher's Huts

    These unassuming buildings in the tranquil churchyard of rural Warblington are in fact grave watchers’ huts.

  • Nash Family Cemetery

    Woodbridge, Virginia

    Nash Family Cemetery

    The final resting place of a prominent Black American farming family sits in the shadows of an IKEA store.

Aerial image of Vietnam, displaying the picturesque rice terraces, characterized by their layered, verdant fields.
Atlas Obscura Membership

Become an Atlas Obscura Member


Join our community of curious explorers.

Become a Member

Get Our Email Newsletter

Follow Us

Facebook YouTube TikTok Instagram Pinterest RSS Feed

Get the app

Download the App
Download on the Apple App Store Get it on Google Play
  • All Places
  • Latest Places
  • Most Popular
  • Places to Eat
  • Random
  • Nearby
  • Add a Place
  • Stories
  • Food & Drink
  • Itineraries
  • Lists
  • Video
  • Podcast
  • Newsletters
  • All Trips
  • Family Trip
  • Food & Drink
  • History & Culture
  • Wildlife & Nature
  • FAQ
  • Membership
  • Feedback & Ideas
  • Community Guidelines
  • Product Blog
  • Unique Gifts
  • Work With Us
  • About
  • FAQ
  • Advertise With Us
  • Advertising Guidelines
  • Privacy Policy
  • Cookie Policy
  • Terms of Use
Atlas Obscura

© 2025 Atlas Obscura. All Rights Reserved.