African Cemetery
Why it's listed
Set along North Street in Rye, this 1.4-acre burial ground was created in 1860 when farmer Underhill Halsted and his wife Elizabeth deeded land to the Town of Rye for use as a cemetery for the area's Black residents. Burials ran from 1864 to 1964. A dry-laid fieldstone wall frames a cleared rectangle of lawn holding 160 headstones, about half of which have tilted, fallen or sunk. Thirty-five mark veterans of the Civil War, Spanish-American War, World War I and World War II, most from the Civil War. Some stones carry fraternal order or labor union inscriptions, and two ministers are buried here. The site is significant for ethnic heritage as a large, well-preserved nineteenth-century African-American burial ground, at a time when Black residents were often denied burial in cemeteries. The deed reflects local Methodist and anti-slavery sentiment, including nearby AME Zion churches. Town and Rye Historical Society restoration plans aim to document the families buried here.
Significance in brief: The nomination argues it is a large, intact example of a nineteenth-century African-American burial ground in Westchester County. It holds 160 gravestones, 35 of them marking Black veterans of the Civil War, Spanish-American War, World War I and World War II. It reflects local anti-slavery sentiment and Methodist and AME Zion church influence in Rye.
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 03000999, listed October 3, 2003. Summary generated October 2026 (model claude-sonnet-5-5, prompt v1.0-2026-10-29, confidence high).
Key facts
| Address | North St., Rye |
|---|---|
| County | Westchester County |
| Listed | October 3, 2003 |
| Reference number | 03000999 |
| Resource type | Site |
| Period of significance | 1860 - 1964 |
| Criteria |
|
| Areas of significance | Black |
| Level of significance | Local |
| Status (as stated in the nomination) | Owned and maintained by the Town of Rye. About half of the 160 headstones are tilted, fallen or sunken, and the fieldstone wall is crumbling. Vines and brush are encroaching on the plots. The last burial took place in 1964, and restoration is planned. |
| Acreage | 1.4 |
| Coordinates | 40.97618, -73.70297 (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 03000999.
- Nomination form (PDF, National Archives) — catalog entry
- Wikipedia article (used for cross-checking only; text not reproduced here)
- Wikidata Q4689715
- This listing as JSON
Last updated October 2026. Found an error? See the editorial policy for how to report it.