Daughters of Zion Cemetery
Also known as: Zion Cemetery; Society Cemetery
Why it's listed
Daughters of Zion Cemetery occupies a gently sloping two-acre hilltop at First and Oak Streets in southeastern Charlottesville. Founded in 1873, it was created privately by and for African Americans in response to the segregated layout of the neighboring Oakwood Cemetery. About 300 graves are estimated, with 152 burials commemorated by surviving marble and granite markers dating from 1873 to 1995. Many stones carry floral or vine motifs, and a few inscriptions name fraternal and sororal groups such as Williams Lodge No. 11 and Queen Esther Temple No. 7. Graves cluster in family plots, including the Allen, Tonsler, Lewis, Coles and Goodloe families, and one plot is enclosed by a cast iron fence. The cemetery was listed for its role in the development of Charlottesville's African-American community after Reconstruction, showing the group's growing independence and preserving a record of family life, faith and social organizations. Burials have ceased, but the grounds remain maintained.
Significance in brief: The cemetery was privately established by and for African Americans in response to the segregation of Charlottesville's public Oakwood Cemetery. It marks the growing autonomy and organization of the city's Black community after Reconstruction. Its family groupings and inscriptions record family life, religious belief, and fraternal and sororal societies of the late 19th and early 20th centuries.
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 10000382, listed June 24, 2010. Summary generated October 2026 (model claude-sonnet-5-5, prompt v1.0-2026-10-29, confidence medium).
Key facts
| Address | Corner of First and Oak Sts, Charlottesville |
|---|---|
| County | Albemarle County |
| Listed | June 24, 2010 |
| Reference number | 10000382 |
| Resource type | Site |
| Period of significance | 1873-ca.1933 |
| Criteria |
|
| Areas of significance | Social History, Black |
| Level of significance | Local |
| Status (as stated in the nomination) | No burials since 1995; the cemetery continues to be maintained and flowers adorn several graves. Some headstones have fallen or been vandalized, but most remain intact. |
| Acreage | 2 |
| Within district | Charlottesville and Albemarle County Courthouse Historic District |
| Coordinates | 38.02909, -78.48418 (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 10000382.
- Nomination form (PDF, National Archives) — catalog entry
- Wikipedia article (used for cross-checking only; text not reproduced here)
- Wikidata Q15213122
- This listing as JSON
Last updated October 2026. Found an error? See the editorial policy for how to report it.