Honoring Sacred Ground in Madison County

On October 19, 2025, members of the Center for Cultural Landscapes team joined the Madison County African American Historical Association (MCAAHA) and community members gathered in Madison, Virginia, for a deeply moving memorial honoring the lives of enslaved people and reflected on their enduring legacy in Madison County. Attendees shared a picnic and fellowship before walking to the burial site for a memorial ceremony. As the names of those who once lived and labored were spoken, soil was collected to honor and remember their lives.  The ceremony featured poetry, prayer, and a moving rendition of Glory, sung by James Daniels. 

Last year, the CCL team visited the MCAAHA and Graves Mill teams at the burial ground as part of outreach connected to the Montpelier Descendants Committee report. This year’s gathering continued that spirit of collaboration and remembrance. The gathering was an example of descendant-led landscape commemoration that the CCL endeavors to support.

Hosted by MCAAHA and Graves Mill Farm, and supported in part by a grant from Virginia Humanities, the gathering also ensures this important history will be remembered for generations to come. A portion of the grant funds will support the installation of an interpretive sign to commemorate and protect this sacred ground.

— Justice Madden, Project Manager

Right: Mountain view from Madison County, Virginia, near the historic burial grounds at Maple Glen Farm (Photo Credit: Andrea Roberts)