Pierce Chapel African Cemetery: One of the Nation’s 11 Most Endangered Historic Places
The National Trust for Historic Preservation has named Pierce Chapel African Cemetery to its prestigious 2023 list of America’s 11 Most Endangered Historic Places. The cemetery, located in Harris County, Georgia is one of the oldest burial grounds for Africans enslaved at several plantations and their descendants. Its recognition highlights the significance of this historic cultural resource and the urgent need for its preservation.
Hamilton Hood Foundation Press Release
Every place has a story, and the Hamilton Hood Foundation wants to share the story of the Historic Pierce Chapel African Cemetery. This cemetery built in the 1800s is a vital connection to Georgia’s history and is the resting place of enslaved Africans. For years, the cemetery had been left alone with only an occasional family member visiting a relative. But recently much of the landscape and many of the gravesites of this historic cemetery have been permanently altered. The destruction and desecration come at the hand of a utility company.