Community engages in future of Shockoe Hill African Burying Ground

RICHMOND, Va. (WRIC) – Community members came out to the Black History Museum on Sunday to hear ideas for the future of the historic Shockoe Hill African Burying Ground .

“Shockoe Hill African Burying Ground represents over 22,000, untold histories, stories, relations,” said Burt Pinnock, project architect at Baskervill .

Opened in 1816, the burial ground was once one of the largest cemeteries in the country for free and enslaved African Americans.

City planner Kim Chen spoke to 8News about the erasure of another burial ground in Richmond — the Shockoe Bottom African Burial Ground.

“It’s been erased,” Chen said. “And the unfortunate story is that now probably the vast majority of that burial ground is now under Interstate 95.”

The Shockoe Hill African Burying Ground is currently covered by a billboard and gas station, causing Baskervill architects to propose eight examples of other memorial sites around the world.

Ideas included statues, a memorial garden, billboards and more similar concepts.

“I love the billboard reminder because it’s just a visual for people who are even thinking about staying in Richmond for a moment,” said community member Keneshia Thornton. “In terms of a memorial, it’d be wonderful to have a memorial wall that has their names.”

Thornton expressed concerns that a memorial garden could potentially be disrespected in the future.

“My fear is 100 years from now, you don’t want to be starting where we are right now,” Thornton said. “A memorial is gorgeous scenery, but if people don’t know what it is, another gas station could be built on it.”

Baskervill will hold another meeting over zoom on Sept. 20 from 7 to 8:30 p.m.

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