Historic Greenwood Cemetery

"Exciting news! The powerful story of Greenwood Cemetery, St. Louis, MO is now featured in a brand-new documentary. I’m thrilled to be included as a commentator in this impactful short film. Please support Greenwood Cemetery, St. Louis, MO with your time and/or money to preserve this important site of African American history!"

- Dr Miller Boyd III

Historic Greenwood Cemetery
& Our History

Greenwood Cemetery was founded in 1874 to meet the needs of the burgeoning African American population in post-Civil War St. Louis. As the first commercial non-sectarian cemetery for African Americans in the St. Louis metropolitan area, it represents a significant cultural and historical landmark. Today, more than 50,000 African Americans rest within its 31.85 acres, each contributing to the rich tapestry of the community's history. Recognized for its historical significance, Greenwood Cemetery was added to the National Register of Historic Places on February 26, 2004. In 2016, it was designated a St. Louis County Historic Landmark, further solidifying its importance. Most recently, in September 2023, it was honored as part of the National Underground Railroad Network to Freedom, highlighting its role in preserving the legacy of African American history. Additionally, on January 15, 2024, Greenwood Cemetery was awarded the Rosa L. Parks Award for Meritorious Service to the Community, a testament to its ongoing commitment to honoring and serving the legacy of those interred within its grounds.

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Notable Burials

Harriet Robinson Scott, wife of Dred Scott U.S. Supreme Court freedom suit plaintiff
Lucy Ann Delaney, wife of Zechariah Delaney, a freed woman of color and courage in pre-Civil War St. Louis
Charlton Hunt Tandy, Attorney and Civil Rights Activist

learn more about notable burials

Learn more about Greenwood Cemetery's
history and the Preservation Association.

Our History

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Promise and Progress

Click here to check out our Events Blog. You can learn about the restoration progress at Historic Greenwood Cemetery.

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Ways You Can Help

Volunteer
GoFundMe
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Check or Money Order

Support Greenwood

Records and Research

A number of different records and research projects are currently underway. The Greenwood Cemetery Restoration Association plans on uploading and providing digital burial records, headstone information, obituaries, and more.

For more information about cemetery records and historical research, please fill out our Contact Us form, or contact Greenwood Cemetery Historian and Archivist, Etta Daniels at [email protected].

Greenwood Cemetery Legacy

There is no doubt of Greenwood’s historic, cultural, and social importance to St. Louis, and particularly St. Louis African Americans. Verification of that came in Feb. of 2004 when, due to the efforts of the Friends of Greenwood, the cemetery was listed on the National Register of Historic Places.

Knowledgeable informants speak of the black musicians, civil rights leaders and other key individuals associated with the development of black St. Louis buried there. Although the condition of the cemetery and many of its stones, as well as incomplete burial records, currently make it difficult to verify some this oral information, Greenwood offers enormous promise as an educational and tourist resource.

Historic Greenwood Cemetery