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Beechwood Cemetery (Durham, North Carolina)

Coordinates: 35°57′33″N 78°54′44″W / 35.9592425°N 78.9123009°W / 35.9592425; -78.9123009
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Beechwood Cemetery
Tombstone, with White Rock Baptist Church in background.
Map
Details
Established1924
Location
3300 Fayetteville Street
Durham, North Carolina
CountryUnited States
Coordinates35°57′33″N 78°54′44″W / 35.9592425°N 78.9123009°W / 35.9592425; -78.9123009
Owned byCity of Durham
No. of graves>9,000
WebsiteOfficial website
Find a GraveBeechwood Cemetery

Beechwood Cemetery is a city-owned cemetery in Durham, North Carolina, established in 1924 or 1926. Maplewood, the city's other public cemetery was historically white while Beechwood is historically black stemming from the city's segregation at their inception.[1] It is the burial location of key Black figures in Durham's history.[2][3]

The five cemeteries, which Beechwood replaced when the city purchased 25 acres from R.L. McDougald, were mostly full and undermaintained.[4]

An expansion was proposed in 2023 as the cemetery neared capacity.[5]

See also

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References

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  1. ^ "Beechwood Cemetery -- a historic public cemetery in Durham -- is quickly running out of space". ABC11 Raleigh-Durham. 2022-10-05. Retrieved 2024-10-02.
  2. ^ "'Unaware of our beginnings": Preservation Durham plans tour of historic Beechwood Cemetery". ABC11 Raleigh-Durham. 2023-04-16. Retrieved 2024-10-02.
  3. ^ WRAL (2023-04-07). "With just 15 plots left, historic Durham cemetery gets cash to expand". WRAL.com. Retrieved 2024-10-02.
  4. ^ Anderson, Jean Bradley (2011-05-09). Durham County: A History of Durham County, North Carolina. Duke University Press. p. 518. ISBN 978-0-8223-4983-9.
  5. ^ WRAL (2023-09-25). "Durham cemetery at capacity to get $700K expansion; city looking at hybrid burial grounds". WRAL.com. Retrieved 2024-10-02.
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