African American Burial Ground facts for kids

The African American Burial Ground is a special historic cemetery in Ashburn, Virginia. It's a resting place for enslaved people, mostly from the nearby Belmont Plantation. This important site helps us remember the lives of those who were enslaved in Loudoun County, Virginia.

Discovering a Hidden History

This burial ground was forgotten for many years. In 2015, a person named Rev. Michelle Thomas found the abandoned site. She later became the president of the local NAACP chapter. In 2019, the Governor of Virginia, Ralph Northam, asked her to join a special group. This group helps teach people about African American history in Virginia.

Protecting and Honoring the Past

In 2017, a company called Toll Brothers owned the land where the cemetery is. They gave about 2.75 acres of land to a new group called the Loudoun Freedom Center. This was a big step to protect the burial ground.

Future Plans for the Site

In 2021, Toll Brothers agreed to donate even more land, about 4 additional acres. This extra land will be used to rebuild a schoolhouse and other buildings. These structures were once used by enslaved people. There are also plans for a columbarium and a scatter garden. These are places where people can place or scatter the ashes of their loved ones.