Arlington National Cemetery, Section 27

Cemetery for Black soldiers who served during the Civil War.

Arlington National Cemetery is the nation’s most sacred burial ground for our nation’s heroes.  When the Emancipation Proclamation went into effect in 1863, a Freedman’s Village was created on the grounds of Arlington for former slaves.  They were later buried here along with other former slaves from the area.  Section 27 also holds the remains of approximately Black Soldiers - 1,500 United States Colored Troops (USCT) – who died defending our nation. 

Also in D.C. is Mary McLeod Bethune townhouse which served as the first headquarters of the National Council of Negro Women (NCNW) as well as the Great Blacks in Wax Museum.