Rye African-American Cemetery facts for kids
Quick facts for kids |
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African Cemetery
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Bell family plot
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 Location in New York
Location in the United States
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| Location | North St., Rye, New York |
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| Area | 1.4 acres (0.57 ha) |
| Built | 1860 |
| NRHP reference No. | 03000999 |
| Added to NRHP | October 03, 2003 |
The Rye African-American Cemetery, also known as the African Cemetery, is a special historic place in Rye, New York. This 1.4-acre cemetery on North Street was created in 1860. The Underhill family donated the land. They wanted it to be a free burial place for African-Americans living in Rye and nearby areas.
Many brave American veterans are buried here. Some even fought in the 20th United States Colored Infantry Regiment. The last known burial happened in 1964. In 2003, the cemetery was added to the National Register of Historic Places. This means it's an important site for history. A year later, it joined the African American Heritage Trail of Westchester County. This trail connects important places like Stony Hill Cemetery and the Jay Estate.
Who Cares for the Cemetery?
A non-profit group called the Friends of the Rye African-American Cemetery helps care for this special place. They work with families of those buried there. The local NAACP chapter also helps. The Friends group has been leading efforts to protect and restore the cemetery since 2010.
In 2021, more than 40 gravestones were carefully fixed. This was a team effort with groups like the World Monuments Fund and the Jay Heritage Center. This restoration happened around the time of the new Juneteenth holiday.
The Rye African-American Cemetery is next to the Greenwood Union Cemetery. You can enter it through the front entrance of Greenwood Union. New signs were put up in 2021. These signs make it easier to find the cemetery. They also show that it is a separate and important historical site.
