1828 Cemetery for Blacks in Columbus, Georgia

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Get directions 600 Sixth Avenue
Columbus, Georgia 31901 United States

Coordinates: 32.45754, -84.98462
Cemetery ID:

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About these numbers These percentages indicate the number of Find a Grave memorials that have a grave photo or GPS coordinates. We don't know the total number of burials in a cemetery, so we cannot calculate a percentage of those with memorials, photos or GPS coordinates.

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Historical Marker: 1828 CEMETERY FOR INTERMENT OF BLACKS // From 1828-1836, this site served as the city's first official cemetery for the interment of Slaves and Freepersons of Color. During the original 1828 plan for Columbus, Georgia, the Board of Commissioners appointed by Governor John FORTSYTH ordered 4 acres of land set aside for the interment of Slaves and Freepersons of Color. The Commissioners appointed Edward Lloyd THOMAS to survey and lay out the town. THOMAS' plan for the cemetery ("Graveyard") was between Few Street (now 7th Street) and Early Street (now 6th Street), east of Mercer Street (now 6th Avenue). The identities and number of those buried on this site remain unknown.

The site now fenced in as a "Resting Garden" no longer encompasses four acres. An archaeological survey of this portion of the tract showed no strong evidence of the presence of graves - however, graves may have been in areas that are now covered by an adjacent apartment building or railroad tracks. For some years, this tract was subject to a lease by the city to a railroad company.