A tribute to African-American Heritage

500 Holland Lane, Alexandria, Virginia

Afican Americans have always been a part of Alexandria life.The Black History Museum on Alfred Street was once a library, established when a group of young black men protested thier not being allowed to the white-only Queen Street Library.The slave museum in the basement of the Urban League offices was once a holding cell for the extensive slave market that later served as a Union hospital. The Freedmen's Cemetery has been rediscovered and is being converted to a memorial park. Alexandia National Cemetery holding five Buffalo Soldiers and hundreds of black soldiers --US Colored Troops--who were moved here from the Freedmen's Cemetery.

Two blocks from the Freedom House Slave Museum--across Duke Street and a block south on West Street then right (west) turn on Jamieson acoss Hoof's Run--visitors can stroll through the eight-acre African-American Heritage Park, which opened in 1995.

The park boasts several sculptures by Jerome Meadows, an African-American artist who lives in the District of Columbia. The most prominent sculpture is a cluster of bronze trees called "Truths That Rise from the Roots Remembered," a tribute to African-American contributions to Alexandria’s development. A sheltered book near the Roots sculpture provides background about Alexandria sites with special significance to African Americans.

The antebellum Black Baptist Cemetery occupies an acre of the park of the 21 burial sites identified, six still have their headstones in place.

A perimeter walk allows visitors to enjoy the wetlands that attract a variety of wildlife, from beavers to painted turtles.

Alexandria Alexandria National Cemetery, with five of the Buffalo Soldiers and two Union soldiers who drowned while chasing John WIlkes Booth, lies just across Hoof's Run to the east.