Douglass Cemetery Stormwater Project/Burial Permit

Douglass Cemetery, located at 1421 Wilkes Street, has several preservation issues, including flooding and drainage problems. The City of Alexandria staff from the Office of Historic Alexandria and Department of Project Implementation are working to address these preservation issues. City Staff will present an update on the upcoming stormwater project.
Title:Douglass Cemetery Stormwater Project/Burial Permit
Date & Time:Wednesday, October 29, 2025 • 7-8:30 p.m.
Location:Lloyd House, 220 N. Washington St. (Map This)
Event Details:Douglass Cemetery Stormwater Project and Burial Permit Updates

Douglass Cemetery, located at 1421 Wilkes Street, has several preservation issues, including flooding and drainage problems. The City of Alexandria staff from the Office of Historic Alexandria and Department of Project Implementation are working to address these preservation issues. The Social Responsibility Group and the Friends of Douglass Cemetery have dedicated their efforts to raise awareness of the significance of the historic African American cemetery and restore it to its rightful condition.

City Staff will present an update on the upcoming stormwater project to mitigate the causes of flooding and implement solutions that are respectful and appropriate to the sensitive nature of the site. Additionally, the City is applying for a Permit for the Excavation of Human Remains with the Virginia Department of Historic Resources in advance of the stormwater construction project. Previous archaeological testing suggests that intact burials will not be impacted by this work. However, because this is a historic cemetery with unmarked burials, the City of Alexandria is proactively seeking a burial permit so that there is a clear and transparent process in place in the unlikely event that an intact burial or human remains or funerary objects are encountered during construction and cannot be avoided. In the unlikely event that intact burials are found during archaeological monitoring of construction and cannot be avoided, the permit would allow for archaeological excavation and relocation of intact burials. Any human remains and funerary objects would be respectfully reburied within Douglass Memorial Cemetery. The Douglass Cemetery Descendant Advisory Group would be advised of and included in the treatment and reburial of any human remains or funerary goods.

Questions about the project can be submitted in advance at: historicalexandria@alexandriava.gov. The presentation will be posted on the project webpage after the meeting.

Links:
Fees:Free
Tags:Archaeology Museum, Historic Preservation, Museums, Old & Historic Alexandria, Old Town


For event details visit https://apps.alexandriava.gov/Calendar/?61387
QR Code

Top