African Burial Ground (lost and rediscovered)

From the 17th through the late 18th century, a burial ground for enslaved and free Africans was established in lower Manhattan but its existence was largely forgotten and the site was built over in subsequent centuries. Human remains were rediscovered during federal building construction in 1991, leading to excavation, study, and the creation of the African Burial Ground National Monument. The memorial and visitor center commemorate the buried community and the site’s history.