Imagine a sanctuary where enslaved and free Black persons found their final resting place. This is Mount Zion Cemetery. It is also known as the Female Union Band Society Cemetery. Here lies a profound history. It speaks of heritage, contributions, and sacrifices.
Mount Zion Cemetery stands as a physical reminder. It reflects the lives of those buried here. These individuals lived during a time of deep segregation. Together, these cemeteries are unique. They are the only two in the District. They were specifically maintained for the burial of enslaved and formerly enslaved persons.
We acknowledge that this land was once the ancestral home. It belonged to the Patawomeke and Nacotchtan people. The Nacotchtan lived within the land of the greater Piscataway tribe for over 2000 years.
These burial grounds now serve as a memorial park. They promote unity, appreciation, and education. Our tour will introduce you to these cemeteries. You’ll meet some individuals for whom this sanctuary is their final resting place. This tour takes about 30 minutes. You are welcome to stay longer. Reflect and learn about this special place in Mount Zion Cemetery.
The cemeteries are private property. Please respect that thousands of burial sites exist here. They are throughout the open, wooded, and hillside areas. Most are not defined by a headstone or other marker. The memorials and artifacts are fragile. Do not walk on memorials. Do not make rubbings of stone engravings.
The tour begins at the Cemeteries’ National Register of Historic Places plaque. It is located at the junction of 27th Street and Mill Road NW. The two cemeteries are adjacent but separate properties. They comprise roughly equal-sized halves. The grounds cover approximately three acres.
Mount Zion Cemetery is a park-like open space. Wooded hillsides and monument areas mark the final resting place. Thousands of people lived and worked in Georgetown. Later, they lived in greater Washington DC. This spans from the 1700s to 1950. The cemeteries have unique histories. They are connected through intertwined lives. Enslaved, freed, and free Black persons are buried here. Also, early white European settlers and their descendants rest here.
The Female Union Band Society Cemetery lies before you. Its open plateau extends to the hillside. Beyond, it slopes down to Rock Creek. The sloped grounds to the left are all burial grounds. Mount Zion Cemetery adjoins the FUBS Cemetery. It is defined by groupings of headstones and memorials. You can see them on the rise to your right.
What is the Female Union Band Society? In 1842, Black women founded the Female Union Band Society. Mary Turner led them. She was originally from St. Mary’s County, Maryland. The Society’s constitution defines it as a cooperative association. Members pledged to assist one another in sickness and death. For membership dues, the organization provided support. A member received $2 per week when ill. Upon death, it provided a grave and $20 for burial expenses. Membership was restricted to women of good moral character. They needed a recommendation by two members. The Society acquired this property to fulfill its commitment. It provided graves for its members. Black women were not legally permitted to own property. Joseph Mason purchased the land in trust for the Society.
Thousands of people are buried in these cemeteries. Research has identified 592 surviving grave and monument stone artifacts. Mount Zion Methodist Church death records identify 2769 persons. They were buried in the Mount Zion Cemetery from 1863-1931. The Health Office of the District of Columbia recorded 6313 burials from 1880-1930.
The Mount Zion Cemetery/Female Union Band Society Cemetery is one of the oldest remaining. It is an African American burial ground in Georgetown. It is also one of the oldest in greater Washington, D.C.. The cemetery was listed in the National Register of Historic Places.