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Portsmouth, New Hampshire: African Burying Ground Memorial

Portsmouth tore up an entire street and replaced it with this memorial, which calls attention to the graves that were here before the street.

Address:
386 State St., Portsmouth, NH
Directions:
Downtown. On the south side of US Hwy 1/State St. between Middle and Fleet Sts.
Hours:
Lit at night. Local health policies may affect hours and access.
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African Burying Ground.

African Burying Ground Memorial

A moving tribute to forgotten enslaved Africans.

[Norm Bonenfant, 08/20/2017]

Portsmouth replaced an entire block of its former Chestnut Street with this long, thin memorial; although, to be fair, the Burial Ground was here before Chestnut St. The former graveyard was uncovered in 2003. The memorial opened in 2015, and includes statues of a slave and Mother Africa trying to reach around a separation wall; a circular burial vault; and vague human silhouettes that are not ghosts, but the concerned citizen-consciences of Portsmouth.


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In the region:
Hotel with Fake Lighthouse, Hampton, NH - 10 mi.

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