Mount Moor African-American Cemetery
Also known as: Mount Moor Cemetery
Why it's listed
Mount Moor African-American Cemetery occupies a three-acre wedge of steep hillside off Dexter Road in West Nyack, in Clarkstown, Rockland County. In 1849 three African-American men, William H. Moore, Stephen Samuels and Isaac Williams, bought land from James and Jane Benson as a non-denominational burying ground for the area's Black population. Trustees added an acre in 1855. The earliest marked burial dates to 1848, and the last took place in 1986. About 90 graves can be identified, including those of veterans of the Civil War, the Spanish-American War, both World Wars and the Korean War. Markers range from carved marble tablets and a cast zinc catalogue monument to wood crosses, piled cobblestones and hand-lettered concrete stones. Of three Black burying grounds once established in Clarkstown, only this one survives. Although a shopping mall development now surrounds it and a blasted rock cliff marks its west edge, the cemetery keeps a high degree of integrity and records a century of burial customs.
Significance in brief: The nomination argues it is a rare, largely intact mid-nineteenth century rural burying ground created by African-Americans for the area's Black community. It is also valued for its collection of grave markers from the mid-nineteenth to mid-twentieth century, including marble tablets, a cast zinc monument and homemade concrete markers. It is the only survivor of three Black burying grounds established in Clarkstown.
Machine-generated summary. This summary was generated by a language model from the official nomination document and has not been reviewed line by line by an editor. It may contain errors. Check the source document before relying on any detail. Source: nomination document (PDF) · National Archives catalog entry. NRHP reference 94001001, listed August 29, 1994. Summary generated October 2026 (model claude-sonnet-5-5, prompt v1.0-2026-10-29, confidence high).
Key facts
| Address | Dexter Rd., off NY 54A, Clarkstown |
|---|---|
| County | Rockland County |
| Listed | August 29, 1994 |
| Reference number | 94001001 |
| Resource type | Site |
| Period of significance | 1849 - 1947 |
| Criteria |
|
| Areas of significance | Art, Black |
| Level of significance | Local |
| Status (as stated in the nomination) | Still a cemetery, maintained by a cemetery association; surrounded by modern commercial development but described as virtually intact. The last burial occurred in 1986. |
| Acreage | 3 |
| Coordinates | 41.09642, -73.95864 (NPS GIS) |
What listing means for this property
Sites (archaeological sites, battlefields, landscapes) are often listed with a restricted address to protect them from looting or disturbance. Listing is honorary for private owners; federal undertakings on or near the site go through Section 106 review, and state laws may protect burials and artefacts regardless of listing.
General information, not legal or tax advice. Rules change; confirm with your State Historic Preservation Office or a qualified adviser.
Sources and further reading
- National Park Service, National Register of Historic Places database (snapshot May 2026), reference 94001001.
- Nomination form (PDF, National Archives) — catalog entry
- Wikipedia article (used for cross-checking only; text not reproduced here)
- Wikidata Q6922247
- This listing as JSON
Last updated October 2026. Found an error? See the editorial policy for how to report it.