Barton Heights Cemeteries
Also known as: DHR file no. 127-5679
Why it's listed
Six adjoining African American burial grounds, now appearing as one twelve-acre cemetery in Richmond's Barton Heights neighborhood, make up this site. Cedarwood, Union Mechanics, Methodist, Sycamore, Ebenezer, and Sons and Daughters of Ham were founded between about 1815 and 1865, many by burial societies whose members paid for plots and basic death benefits. Black churches, fraternal orders and benevolent groups owned plots, and their names and insignias survive on some headstones. The grounds hold the graves of ministers, barbers, tradesmen, contractors, teachers, a Civil War veteran and several city councilmen, though some remains were later moved to Woodland Cemetery. The city acquired the cemeteries in 1934, and a Works Progress Administration fence followed. Burials continued into the 1970s. Today the land is closed, with scattered stone markers, cast iron plot fences and large trees. It is recognized for its link to early Black self-help organizations and for the notable people buried there.
Significance in brief: The cemeteries represent early efforts by free Black Richmonders and later fraternal and benevolent groups to create their own burial grounds through burial societies that offered death benefits. They are tied to the roots of Black insurance and fraternal organizations in Richmond. Many prominent local and state African American figures are buried there, including councilmen, ministers, teachers and tradesmen.
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 02000364, listed April 10, 2002. Summary generated October 2026 (model claude-sonnet-5-5, prompt v1.0-2026-10-29, confidence high).
Key facts
| Address | 1600 Lamb Ave., Richmond (Independent City) |
|---|---|
| County | Richmond (city and county) |
| Listed | April 10, 2002 |
| Reference number | 02000364 |
| Resource type | Site |
| Period of significance | 1815 to 1950 |
| Architectural style | No style |
| Criteria |
|
| Areas of significance | Black, Social History |
| Level of significance | Local |
| Status (as stated in the nomination) | The cemeteries are closed and no longer in use. They are owned and maintained by the City of Richmond. Burials continued until the 1970s. Many markers are damaged, fallen, sunken or illegible. |
| Acreage | 12.6 |
| Within district | James River and Kanawha Canal Historic District |
| Coordinates | 37.55814, -77.43246 (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 02000364.
- Nomination form (PDF, National Archives) — catalog entry
- Wikipedia article (used for cross-checking only; text not reproduced here)
- Wikidata Q16164769
- This listing as JSON
Last updated October 2026. Found an error? See the editorial policy for how to report it.