Oaklawn Cemetery

---

Site Brief:

Founded: 1905

Location: St. Petersburg, FL

Additional name(s): None

Affiliate group(s):

• University of South Florida

• African American Cemetery Alliance of Tampa Bay

• Florida Public Archaeology Network (FPAN)

 

---

History:

The former site of Oaklawn Cemetery in St. Petersburg, Florida is located on land which now serves as VIP Lot 1 parking lot at Tropicana Field. The site was segregated by section after neighboring Evergreen Cemetery (designated for African American burials) required space to expand. The cemetery operated until 1926 when it was decided by city officials to close and condemn the Oaklawn site, as well as nearby Moffett and Evergreen cemeteries. Per city ordinance, persons buried at Oaklawn were to be relocated based on race, with African Americans moved to Lincoln Cemetery and whites moved to Royal Palm Cemetery.

---

Resource links:

• https://lib.usf.edu/news/the-lost-african-american-cemeteries-of-tampa-bay-whats-being-done-to-remember-them/

• https://www.baynews9.com/fl/tampa/news/2021/04/20/are-there-graves-still-buried-on-the-tropicana-field-property-

• https://crowsneststpete.com/2021/01/31/preserving-african-american-history-through-burial-ground-research/

• African American Burial Grounds Oral History Project | Florida Studies | University of South Florida (usf.edu)

---

BCN Contact Information:

Antoinette Jackson

atjackson@usf.edu

https://heritagelab.org/