African American Heritage Memorial (Historical Marker)

Here follows the inscription written on the series of roadside historical markers scattered throughout the park:

[Plaque on the left side of the entrance:]
From the establishment of Alexandria in 1749 to the present time, African Americans have been a vibrant part of this city's history. The City of Alexandria would not exist in its present form were it not for the economic, social, and cultural contributions of African Americans both slave and free. As Alexandria developed in the 19th century, African Americans began to establish enclaves with distinctive names and characteristics. Many of these areas such as: The Berg, The Bottoms, Cross Canal, Hayti, The Hump, Sunnyside, and Uptown survive today and retain historical significance for African Americans currently living in Alexandria. From these original African American neighborhoods a sense of community developed, which let to the creation of churches, schools, civic and social organizations. these memorial sculptures in this park highlight people and institutions important to Alexandria's African American heritage.

The land for this memorial is of special significance. In 1885 this parcel of land was purchased by the Black Baptist Cemetery Association and a number of grave sites remain here. Hooff's Run, which runs through this site provided access to the Potomac River and the town of Alexandria for a variety of traders and retailers. By the middle of the 19th century, railroads provided a new transportation system. Established about 1851, the first railroad in this vicinity was the Orange and Alexandria which passed through this land on its way from the town center to more western ports of Virginia.

The Norfolk Southern Corporation has set aside this land as a memorial to recognize and celebrate and commemorate African American contributions to the Alexandria community. The Alexandria African American Heritage Park, a gift to the City from the Norfolk Southern Corporation, will contribute to the rich cultural heritage of Alexandria. The history and accomplishments of African American leaders will stimulate young people to develop esteem, hope, determination and pride in themselves. The memorial park coexists with the original landscape of the cemetery and preserves the interesting and varied plant life on this site. The design creates an atmosphere suitable for nature walks or meditation.

[Plaque on the right side of the entrance:]
Truths That Rise From The Roots — Remembered

We bury more than our bodies at rest
Deep within the forgiving soil
We bury as well our struggles and triumphs
Our dreams, our legends, our revelry, our toil
Here is where we enshrine our wisdom
To be joined with that of our yesteryears
And here is where our tomorrows are planted
As lessons learned against future fears

The artistic works incorporated into this Memorial/Park offer symbolic testament to the efforts and accomplishments of a great many local individuals, institutions and organizations both past and present. The names and images etched upon these forms, as acknowledgment of but some of those who have 'passed this way before', represent the foundation, the builders, the source and substance of this historic and vibrant community. As a context in which history and art are joined this public-art setting serves as a cultural marker — a communal space in which the sons and daughters of the here and now celebrate and honor the heroes of their past.

Jerome B. Meadows — Artist
Zoe Briscoe — Research, Technical Assistant
Park Design — EDAW

[Etching to the right of the plaque:]
Odd Fellows, 1869
Magnus Temple — 3, 1869
Lincoln Lodge — 11, 1875
Universal Lodge — 1, 1895

Aaron McKinney
Rev. Samuel M. Johnson

[Sculpture on the east side of the park:]
African-American Neighborhoods

Hayti
Uptown
The Hump
The Bottoms
The Berg or Fishtown
Across the Canal (Cross Canal)

[Sculpture on the west side of the park:]
Black Baptist Cemetery Association 1885

From the past they speak,
in varied voice and
familiar faces

Mary Rome
Matilda Gaines
Sarah Hunter
Abraham Hunter
Julia Ann Washington

[Pillar nearest to the sculpture, left side:]
Education

Alexandria Academy

Washington Free School
Mt. Hope Academy 1837-1843
Alfred Perry
Sylvia Morris
Lancasterian School
Society of Friends

American Baptist Free Mission Society
Mary Chase 1861

Saint Robe Institute 1881
Jane A. Crouch
Miss Sarah Gray

First Select Colored School 1862
Rev. and Mrs. Robinson
Rev. G.W. Parker
Amanda Borden

The First Free Colored Mission Day School 1863

Union Town School 1863
Nancy Williams

The Primary School 1863
William K. Harris
Richard H. Lyles

Newtown School 1863
Anna Bell Davis
Leannah Powell

The Sickles Barricks School 1863

The Jacobs Free School 1864
Louisa Jacobs
Harriet Jacobs
Miss S.Y. Lawton
Miss E.M. Lawton<

First National Freedmen's School 1864

Harriet Byron Douglass 1864

Second National Freedmen's School
Rev. M.F. Sluby
Laura Phenix

Miss M.F. Simms

Mary M. Nickens

The Washington St. School
Miss L.V. Lewis

[Pillar nearest to the sculpture, right side:]
Education


Pennsylvania Freedmen's Relief Association 1865

Bureau of Refugees, Freedmen and Abandoned Lands

Gustavus Lumpkins 1867

First Free School Society of Alexandria
George Seaton
George W. Bryant
Anthony L. Perpener
Hannibal King
James Piper
George P. Douglas
John H. Davis
Samuel W. Madden
J. Mck. Ware
Charles Watson
George W. Parker
Rev. Clem Robinson
George W. Sims

Snowden School for Boys
William F. Powell
Carrie Claggett
John Parker
Patrick H. Lumpkins

Hallowell School for Girls
Matilda A. Madden

Parker-Gray School 1920
Henry T. White
Laura Dorsey
Susie P. Madden
Margaret T. Young
Sarah D. Gray
Harriet Thornton
James B. Howard
Rozier D. Lyles
Mamie E. Anderson
Rev. A.W. Adkins
Wesley Elam
William Pitts
Ferris Holland
Louis Johnson
Edward L. Patterson
John T. Butler

Lyles-Crouch Elementary School
Julia Pritchett

Seminary School
Geraldine Stevenson

St. Joseph's Catholic School
The Oblate Sisters of Providence
Sister Mary John Bearchmann
Sister Mary Eusebius

Charles Houston Elementary School
Helen L. Davis

Martha Millier-Kindergarten

Saretta N. Cope-Kindergarten

[Second pillar from the sculpture, left side:]
Religion


Alfred Street Baptist Church 1801
Jesse Henderson
Evans Williams
Daniel Taylor
Rev. Samuel Madden
Rev. Alexander A. Truatt
Rev. Andrew W. Adkins

"Old Zion" Methodist Church 1832

Roberts Memorial United Methodist Church 1832
James Harper
Francis Hoy
James Evans
Philip Hamilton
Simon Turley
Rev. James Thomas
Rev. Robert H. Robinson
Rev. James Howard

Beulah Baptist Church 1863
Rev. Clem Robinson

Zion Baptist Church 1864
Rev. Robert Woodson, Pastor

Shiloh Baptist Church 1865
Rev. Charles H. Rodgers
Rev. Leland Warring

Second Baptist Church

Third Baptist Church 1865
Rev. Samuel Stewart
Rev. Samuel Ross

Meade Memorial Espiscopal Church 1869
Rev. J.W.M. Powell
Canon John G. Davis

Ebenezer Baptist 1880
Rev. Field Cooke
Rev. L. Henry Bailey
Rev. W. Howard Stanton
Rev. N.B. Hargraves
Rev. Austin A. Booker

Good Shepard Episcopal Chapel 1880

St. Cyprian's Episcopal Mission

[Second pillar from the sculpture, right side:]
Religion

Mt. Jezreel 1890
Rev. Coleman
Rev. O.L. Miles

Oakland Baptist Church 1891
Rev. E.R. Jackson
Clara Adams
William Carpenter
Brook Johnson
William Jerrell
John W. Casey
Maggie Hall
Smith Wahler
Daniel Simms, Jr.
Nancy Shepherd
Harriet Short
Matilda Woods
Mollie Nelson

St. Joseph's Catholic Church 1915
Thomas Blair
Katie Bowman
Carrie Crouch
John Johnson
John Parker

Tabernacle of God and Saints of Christ 1921

St. John's Baptist Church 1926

Rev. and Mrs. J.G. West
Deacon David Askew
Deacon Raymond
Deacon Holmes

Bethel Presbyterian Church

Community Presbyterian Church 1928
Rev. Richard B. Strong

United House of Prayer

Russell Temple C.M.E. 1941

Alleyne AME Zion Church 1949
Rev. Frederick Douglass Williams
Rev. Grayson Kelch

[Third pillar from the sculpture, left side:]
Civic

Thomas Fuller - 1789
Bejamin Banneker - 1791
William Goddard
Dominick Bearcroft
Alexander Bryan - 1833
Mary Savoy - 1839
David Jarbour
H. Dulany - 1850
Mary Cole
John Williams
Moses Hepburn
John Hepburn
Henry Anderson
Charles Watson
George Seaton
John Seaton
Nellie Whiting
Magnus L. Robinson
Norman B. Pinn

Freeman N.M. Murray
The Home News, 1900
Edmund Hill
W. Walter Jackson
Murray Brothers Printers, 1903
Raymond H. Murray
F. Morris Murray
Norman D. Murray
Miss. Susie B. Buckner

Florence Murray
Lewis Smith
Samuel A. Tucker
L.H. Williams

Alexandria Home Bakery
John W. Jackson

Margaret Evans
Washington Jackson
Thomas Arrington
Laura Watson
Harriet Ware

[Third pillar from the sculpture, right side:]
Civic

Professor T.E. Dulany
C. William Gray
W.C. Arnold
Lloyd Lewis
Richard N. Poole
Henry Brooks
Mrs. Mattie Brooks
Mrs. Katie Skinner
Mrs. Lorraine Funn Atkins
Mrs. Annie B. Rose
Mrs. Connie Chissell
George Gaddis
Arthur Bracey

Library Sit-In - 1939
B. Wilbert Tucker
Morris Murray
Edward Gaddis
Clarence "Buck" Strange
Sgt. George Watson

Doctors
Albert Johnson - 1892
J. Milton Hopkins - c. 1894
Frederick P. barrier - c. 1917
Oswald Durant
Henry Ladrey
C. Aubrey Lindo
Abe Penn
Paul Piper
Charles West
Herbert G. Chissell
James Carpenter
Newman C. Taylor
Frederick Perry
W. Lee Harris
Elijah E. Lacey
T. Bernard Blue
William Skinner

Lawyers
James Webster
Thomas Watson
William Macmurray
J. Byron Hopkins
Alfred Collins
Judge Joseph Waddy
James Raby

Markers Erected by The Norfolk Southern Corporation.
The marker stands in the Eisenhower East neighborhood of Alexandria.