Ulster County Historical Society - Protecting the Pine St. Burial Ground

Ulster County Historical Society is pleased to have the Kingston Land Trust and the Harambee Coalition present their appeal to help save the African Burial Ground located on Pine Street in Midtown Kingston. Kingston Land Trust is working to restore the property containing a forgotten historic African Burial Ground. Once secured, KLT will work in partnership with HarambeeCoalition and the community to restore the site, which includes an existing building, and open it to the public as a regional center for education and reflection.

More than 125 years ago, this burial ground was portioned off for private ownership when the borders of the City of Kingston expanded into the surrounding rural area. Its existence has not since been officially acknowledged despite robust historic documentation and the findings of human remains of African origins. Recently, staff at SUNY New Paltz’s Geology department used ground-penetrating radar to survey the site: The results indicate countless graves onsite that have long been ignored.

Kingston Land Trust is a nonprofit organization that protects environmentally and socially significant land for the common good. They achieve land protection through planning, policy, design, advocacy, programs and outreach.

The Harambee Coalition promotes strength of their community through cultural and educational events that enriches the lives of youth and adults.