Beulah Cemetery Explained

Beulah Cemetery
Location:Junction of Openwood St. and Old Jackson Rd.,
Vicksburg, Mississippi, U.S.
Refnum:92001404
Added:October 23, 1992
Built:1884
Designated Other1:Mississippi Landmark
Designated Other1 Number:1590 Page 211[1]
Designated Other1 Date:April 16, 2010
Partof:Vicksburg MRA

Beulah Cemetery is a historic cemetery in Vicksburg, Mississippi, U.S.. It is a National Register of Historic Places listed place since 1992, and is significant as one of the most intact historic sites associated with the growth of the African-American community of Vicksburg.[2] It is still an active cemetery.

History

Beulah was established in 1884 by the Vicksburg Tabernacle No. 19 Independent Order of Brothers and Sisters of Love and Charity, a fraternal order that had wide support among Blacks.[3] It was Vicksburg's only cemetery for African-Americans. The of land for the cemetery was purchased by Harvey and Lucy Shannon for US $1000. Prior to the development of Beulah Cemetery, Black people were buried in church cemeteries or in private yards. Beulah Cemetery is abutting the Vicksburg National Military Park.

There are more than 5,500 graves in the cemetery. The majority of the graves date from 1884 to the 1940s. The back of the cemetery was known as "paupers field", a place for the burial of unknown, or indigent people.

Notable burials

See also

External links

Notes and References

  1. Web site: Beulah Cemetery . 2024-04-18 . Mississippi Department of Archives and History (MDAH).
  2. News: Beulah Cemetery . NPGallery, Digital Asset Management System .
  3. Web site: October 23, 1992 . National Register of Historic Places Registration Form: Beulah Cemetery . https://web.archive.org/web/20231214043658/https://npgallery.nps.gov/GetAsset/131e4122-ef50-4029-9977-36b87b0183bc . 2023-12-14 . National Park Service.
  4. Book: African American Historic Places . 1995-07-13 . John Wiley & Sons . National Register of Historic Places . 978-0-471-14345-1 . 313 . en.