Morningstar Tabernacle No. 88 Moses Cemetery and Hall
Site Brief:
Founded: 1885
Location: Cabin John, MD
Additional name(s): Morningstar Moses Cemetery; Moses Hall Cemetery; No. 10 Cemetery; Gibson Grove
Affiliate group(s): N/A
History:
Morningstar Moses Cemetery and Hall, founded in 1885 in Cabin John, Montgomery County, Maryland, is a significant African American historic site established by Morningstar Tabernacle No. 88 of the Ancient United Order of Sons & Daughters, Brothers & Sisters of Moses (MT88), Its early extant minutes book is a rare artifact. It shows how MT88 supported education, burial, and aid for its Black community. The 124 documented burials, including Clara Barton’s housekeeper Emma Jones and founding community member Sarah Gibson, date from 1894 to 1977, with 433 potential burials identified by GPR surveys. MT88 built a Moses Hall on the site for its meetings and community events. The site and local Black community were impacted by the construction of the Capital Beltway (I-495) in the 1960s. The Hall’s foundations remain the only remains of the three Moses Halls originally established in the county. Eligible for the National Register of Historic Places, it stands as a testament to Black resilience, community, and history. Supported by the Coalition to Protect Maryland Burial Sites.
