Mount Ararat Cemetery
Site Brief:
Founded: 1869
Location: Nashville, TN
Additional name(s): Greenwood Cemetery
Affiliate group(s):
95 Counties TN
History:
Mount Ararat Cemetery, established in 1869, is the oldest organized African American cemetery in Nashville and one of the most historically significant Black burial grounds in Tennessee. Founded by Black civic and religious leaders during Reconstruction, the cemetery was created in response to the urgent need for a dedicated burial place for Nashville's newly emancipated African American community after the Civil War. Prior to its establishment, many enslaved and free Black residents were buried in segregated sections of the Nashville City Cemetery or in white-owned family cemeteries. The cemetery became a symbol of self-determination, reflecting the efforts of Black Nashvillians to build and sustain their own institutions in the decades following emancipation. It is the final resting place of thousands of African Americans, including veterans, educators, ministers, business leaders, artists, and community pioneers whose lives helped shape Nashville's history.
Mount Ararat Cemetery holds profound significance for both the local community and Black history because it preserves the stories of generations who endured slavery, fought for freedom, built thriving Black neighborhoods, established churches and schools, and laid the foundation for Nashville's African American civic and cultural life. During periods when Black communities were excluded from many public institutions, the cemetery served as a sacred space of remembrance, dignity, and community identity. Although it experienced decades of neglect during the twentieth century, restoration efforts helped reclaim its historical importance, ensuring that the legacy of those buried there would not be lost. Today, Mount Ararat stands as both a place of remembrance and an enduring testament to the resilience, leadership, and contributions of African Americans in Nashville and throughout Tennessee.
