Douglass Cemetery Stormwater Project and Burial Permit Updates

October 29
7:00-8:30 p.m.
Lloyd House, 220 N. Washington St., Alexandria, Virginia, 22314
Free

Douglass Cemetery, located at 1421 Wilkes Street, has several preservation issues, including flooding and drainage problems. The City of Alexandria staff from the Office of Historic Alexandria and Department of Project Implementation are working to address these preservation issues. The Social Responsibility Group and the Friends of Douglass Cemetery have dedicated their efforts to raise awareness of the significance of the historic African American cemetery and restore it to its rightful condition. 

City Staff will present an update on the upcoming stormwater project to mitigate the causes of flooding and implement solutions that are respectful and appropriate to the sensitive nature of the site. Additionally, the City is applying for a Permit for the Excavation of Human Remains with the Virginia Department of Historic Resources in advance of the stormwater construction project. Previous archaeological testing suggests that intact burials will not be impacted by this work. However, because this is a historic cemetery with unmarked burials, the City of Alexandria is proactively seeking a burial permit so that there is a clear and transparent process in place in the unlikely event that an intact burial or human remains or funerary objects are encountered during construction and cannot be avoided. In the unlikely event that intact burials are found during archaeological monitoring of construction and cannot be avoided, the permit would allow for archaeological excavation and relocation of intact burials. Any human remains and funerary objects would be respectfully reburied within Douglass Memorial Cemetery. The Douglass Cemetery Descendant Advisory Group would be advised of and included in the treatment and reburial of any human remains or funerary goods.  

Questions about the project can be submitted in advance at: historicalexandria@alexandriava.gov. The presentation will be posted on the project webpage after the meeting. 

For more information on Douglass Cemetery, visit https://www.alexandriava.gov/historic-sites/douglass-memorial-cemetery.

About the Office of Historic Alexandria  

The Office of Historic Alexandria preserves and shares the history of the City of Alexandria with eight museums, historic sites, archives, archaeology, tours, exhibits and public programs. Through powerful storytelling and confronting the City’s past, Historic Alexandria enriches the present and inspires the future. We enhance the quality of life for residents and visitors and serve as a partner in the City’s equity and inclusion initiatives. For more information, alexandriava.gov/Historic. 

For reasonable disability accommodation, contact Nicole Quinn at historicalexandria@alexandriava.gov or call 703.746.4554, Virginia Relay 711.  

If you prefer communication in another language, free interpretation and translation services are available to you. Please email LanguageAccess@alexandriava.gov or call 703-746-3960.  

For inquiries from the news media only, please contact Jeanene Harris at 703.851.4333 or email jeanene.harris@alexandriava.gov.