Mount Moor African-American Cemetery facts for kids
Quick facts for kids |
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Mount Moor African-American Cemetery
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 Location in New York
Location in the United States
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| Location | Dexter Rd., off NY 54A, Clarkstown, New York |
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| Area | 3 acres (1.2 ha) |
| Built | 1849 |
| NRHP reference No. | 94001001 |
| Added to NRHP | August 29, 1994 |
Mount Moor African-American Cemetery, also called Mount Moor Cemetery, is a very old and important burial ground. It is located in West Nyack, New York. This special cemetery was started in 1849. It is a historic place where many African American people are buried.
Contents
Mount Moor Cemetery: A Place of History
This cemetery holds about 90 known graves. Many of the people buried here were brave soldiers. They fought in important wars like the Civil War, the Spanish-American War, and World War I.
Honoring Heroes
Among those buried at Mount Moor are some truly special people. One is Lafayette Logan. He was a "Buffalo Soldier." This was a nickname for African American soldiers who served in the U.S. Army. Lafayette Logan fought with the 54th Massachusetts Infantry Regiment. This was a famous group of African American soldiers during the Civil War. Also, several members of the 26th United States Colored Infantry Regiment are buried here. These were also African American soldiers who fought for freedom.
How Mount Moor Began
The records of the cemetery show that Mount Moor started on July 7, 1849. On that day, James and Jane Benson gave the land to three men: William H. Moore, Stephen Samuels, and Issac Williams. These men were part of a group known as the "Burying Ground for Colored People."
The cemetery grew bigger in 1855. A new section was added to the south. It was officially dedicated on May 1, 1965. This means it was formally recognized and celebrated.
A Recognized Landmark
Mount Moor Cemetery was added to the National Register of Historic Places in 1994. This is a list of places in the United States that are important to history. Being on this list helps protect the cemetery. In 2021, the cemetery was restored. This means it was cleaned up and repaired to keep it looking good.
Today, the cemetery is surrounded by the Palisades Center shopping mall. It is also next to the mall's parking lots. This shows how old history and modern life exist side by side.
