Contrabands & Freedmen Cemetery

Alexandria


During the Civil War, the Union-controlled southern city of Alexandria, VA, became a safe haven for formerly enslaved African Americans. Though they had been freed from bondage, their lives were difficult, with disease and death rampant in their shantytown homes. Some 1800 contrabands (as freed slaves were called) and freedmen were buried at this cemetery on Alexandria’s southern edge. A memorial park was developed on the site, including the sculpture, The Path of Thorns and Roses, symbolizing the freedom struggle.

The cemetery is about 1.5 miles southeast of the King St Metro station. From the station, take Reinekers Lane south, go left on Duke St, then right on S Washington St.

Transportation

  • metro: Blue, Yellow Line to King St-Old Town

Lonely Planet's must-see attractions

Nearby Alexandria attractions

1. Lyceum: Alexandria's History Museum

0.65 MILES

For a quick primer on Alexandria’s history, stop by this small city museum in a beautiful Greek Revival building dating from 1839. A somewhat dusty array…

2. Freedom House Museum

0.7 MILES

This demure Federal-style row house holds a tragic story. At a time when Alexandria was the nation’s second-largest slave center (after New Orleans), a…

3. Friendship Firehouse Museum

0.72 MILES

This 1855 Italianate firehouse displays historic firefighting gear – a great draw for kids. Local legend has it that George Washington helped found this…

4. Stabler-Leadbeater Apothecary Museum

0.77 MILES

In 1792 Edward Stabler opened up his apothecary (pharmacy) – a family business that would operate until 1933, when the Depression forced its doors to…

5. Christ Church

0.81 MILES

Built in 1773, this brown-brick Georgian-style church has welcomed worshipers from George Washington to Robert E Lee. The cemetery contains the mass grave…

6. Gadsby’s Tavern Museum

0.82 MILES

Once a real tavern (operated by John Gadsby from 1796 to 1808), this building now houses a museum demonstrating the prominent role of the tavern in…

7. Carlyle House

0.85 MILES

If you have time for just one historic house tour in Alexandria, make it this one. The house dates from 1753 when merchant and city founder, John Carlyle,…

  • placement: superzone
  • path: Destinations/POIs/superzone
  • possible size: [970, 250], [970, 90], [728, 90], [1, 1],
  • targeting:
    {
      "url": "usa/virginia/alexandria/attractions/contrabands-freedmen-cemetery/a/poi-sig/1563934/1341611",
      "destination": "Alexandria",
      "continent": "North-America",
      "country": "USA",
      "region": "Virginia",
      "city": "Alexandria",
      "position": "superzone"
    }