Gettysburgians shine light on black Americans buried at Lincoln Cemetery – WITF

Toward Racial Justice: Voices from the Midstate

photo courtesy of Destination Gettysburg

photo courtesy of Destination Gettysburg
Aired; March 28th, 2025.

Gettysburg is steeped in Civil War history, but one of its most overlooked narratives—the history of its Black community—is about to receive a long-overdue acknowledgment. This month, Lincoln Cemetery, Gettysburg’s only surviving Black burial ground, will undergo a significant transformation. Volunteers will gather to place grave markers at over 130 unmarked graves recently discovered through ground-penetrating radar (GPR).
Jean Green, President of the Lincoln Cemetery Association, has been leading this effort. “The cemetery was established in 1867 as a final resting place for Gettysburg’s Black citizens,” she explains. “It is the only concrete evidence that there was a Black community here.”
photo courtesy of Destination Gettysburg
For years, many graves in the cemetery were left unmarked due to limited documentation and resources. But thanks to GPR technology, the location of these previously unknown burials has been identified. “When I started this project, I knew there were more people buried here who didn’t have headstones,” Green says. “They were just as important as those with marked graves, and I wanted to find them.”
photo courtesy of Destination Gettysburg
The upcoming placement of grave markers is a deeply personal achievement for Green, who has multiple family members buried in Lincoln Cemetery. “I have my great-grandmother, who was a slave, my grandfather, and many other relatives resting here. One day, I will be buried alongside them,” she shares. “This project is about honoring those who came before us and ensuring they are not forgotten.”
Each of the new markers will read “Unknown” to reflect the lack of records identifying those buried. “I can’t tell you how much joy it brings me to finally give these people recognition,” Green says. “When we put these markers down, we are saying, ‘You are seen, and you are honored.’”
In addition to the cemetery project, Destination Gettysburg is relaunching the Gettysburg Black History Trail in May. Mary Grace Kauffman, a representative from the tourism organization, says the updated trail will include two new locations and audio enhancements. “You can’t tell the story of Gettysburg without its Black history,” Kauffman says. “This trail shines a light on stories that haven’t received enough attention.”
photo courtesy of Destination Gettysburg
Visitors will soon be able to listen to narrations of Black history at trail stops, further immersing themselves in this essential part of Gettysburg’s past. “We want people to hear these stories in a Black voice, making the experience even more impactful,” Kauffman explains.
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Toward Racial Justice: Voices from the Midstate

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Gilliam Nii Lighter

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