History

Explore the history of Laurel Cemetery and its lasting significance to Baltimore’s African American community.

For more than a century, Laurel Cemetery served as the final resting place for thousands of Baltimore's African-American residents before its story was nearly erased.

a place of remembrance.

a legacy of resilience.

an era of restoration.

Black-and-white photograph of overgrown gravestones at Laurel Cemetery in 1951.

Historic photograph of gravestones being relocated from Laurel Cemetery during cemetery redevelopment.

1852 - 1958

Baltimore's First Nondenominational African-American Cemetery

Laurel Cemetery was incorporated in 1852 on land that was rumored to have been used as a burial ground for free and enslaved servants of local landowners.

It quickly became one of the most beautiful and prominent African American cemeteries in the city, with an estimated 37,000 to 42,000 burials occurring during its years of operation.

a place of legacy

Laurel Cemetery was more than a burial ground—it was the commemorative heart of Baltimore's African American community.

It was the resting place of educators, clergy, entrepreneurs, civic leaders, and veterans. Annual parades and Memorial Day events honored those who served and those who built the community.

Historic black-and-white photograph of the cleared Laurel Cemetery site being prepared for construction of the Two Guys Department Store, now Belair-Edison Crossing Shopping Center.

A black-and-white architectural etching depicting the historic entrance gate to Laurel Cemetery. The symmetrical structure consists of two square, two-story gatehouses connected by a large pointed Gothic archway at the center. Each gatehouse features decorative rooflines, multiple-paned windows, and tall vertical openings that frame the central passage. Trees and shrubs are visible through the archway and along the sides of the entrance, with a narrow pathway leading beneath the arch into the cemetery grounds. The detailed crosshatch illustration emphasizes the building's historic architecture and the formal entrance to the cemetery.

NOW, MORE THAN A CEMETERY.

Laurel Cemetery was the resting place of educators, clergymen, entrepreneurs, civic leaders, and veterans. A sacred place where a community's legacy lives on.

A sacred place where a community legacy lives on.

Our mission is to honor, preserve, and reconnect the stories of those buried at Laurel Cemetery through research, archaeology, and community collaboration.

SPECIAL EVENTS

Parades and Memorial Day events honored those laid to rest in Laurel.

US Colored Troops

Over 240 United States Colored Troops were buried on the grounds

Pioneers & Leaders

Resting place for educators, clergy, entrepreneurs, and civic pioneers.

Through the Years

Cemetery becomes a Place of Remembrance

Late 1850s - 1860s

Laurel becomes the final resting place for thousands of African Americans, including ministers, veterans, civic leaders, educators, and formerly enslaved people.

Black-and-white image of officials signing legislative documents at a desk, representing Maryland's 1957 approval of legislation authorizing the sale of Laurel Cemetery property.

Government purchases a portion of the Cemetery

1867

The Federal Government established Laurel National Cemetery within Laurel Cemetery, burying over 240 United States Colored Troops. Thousands later gathered each May to honor them on Decoration Day, the precursor to Memorial Day.

US Colored Troops Soldiers Reinterred

1884

US Colored Troops Soldiers Removed: The graves of the over 240 United States Colored Troops are removed from Laurel National Cemetery and reinterred at Loudon Park National Cemetery at the direction of the U.S. Secretary of War.

Black-and-white photograph of the 1963 Laurel Cemetery Memorial plaque at Arbutus Memorial Park honoring individuals and families buried at Laurel Cemetery.

The Laurel Cemetery is Established

1852

Baltimore’s first incorporated and non-demonational cemetery for African Americans opens on 25 acres in northeast Baltimore.

Black-and-white collage of Frederick Douglass, the Bishop Daniel Alexander Payne monument, attendees, and a peaceful cemetery landscape beneath large trees.

Frederick Douglass Visits Laurel Cemetery

1894

Frederick Douglass Speaks at Memorial for Daniel Alexander Payne: Frederick Douglass, a frequent visitor to Laurel Cemetery, attends the unveiling of the monument for Bishop Daniel Alexander Payne, one of the cemetery’s most significant and well-documented commemorative events.

The Cemetery Decline Begins

1930

Industry changes, financial difficulties, and reduced maintenance add to the cemetery's deterioration.

Black-and-white photograph of the Belair-Edison neighborhood entrance sign in Baltimore, with trees and rowhouses in the background.

Calls for Demolition to the Cemetery

1948

Community discussions begin about the future of the neglected cemetery and the growing development pressure in northeast Baltimore.

Laurel Cemetery files for Bankruptcy

1952

Laurel Cemetery officially declares bankruptcy after years of neglect.

Legislation Passed for the Sale of the Cemetery

1957

Maryland lawmakers approve legislation allowing the sale of the Laurel Cemetery property and grounds.

Closure and Demolition

1958

The cemetery is sold and leveled after 106 years. Some remains are relocated to New Laurel Cemetery.

Site Redeveloped

1962

After years of litigation, the former Cemetery site is transformed into a commercial shopping center and residential development.

Research and Rediscovery of the Cemetery

2015 - Present

Archaeological investigations uncover thousands of unmarked burials, leading to ongoing preservation and memorialization efforts.

the full story

A Place of Memory:
Baltimore’s Historic Laurel Cemetery

Edited by Isaac Shearn and Elgin Klugh

Discover the complete story of Baltimore's historic Laurel Cemetery through groundbreaking research, archaeology, and archival discovery.

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