The African Cemetery at Higgs Beach

The Reference Desk

In this previously-Patreon-only episode, Katie shares the story behind the African Cemetery located at Higgs Beach in Key West.

In 1860, three slave ships were intercepted en route to Cuba and diverted to Key West. While most of the African refugees onboard were eventually transported to Liberia, 295 died in Key West. Their graves now comprise the only known cemetery in the U.S. of African refugees during the international slave trade.
Sources:

• Lincoln's Evolving Thoughts On Slavery, And Freedom: NPR
• The American Colonization Society - White House Historical Association
• How a Movement to Send Formerly Enslaved People to Africa Created Liberia
• The African American Experience at Fort Jefferson, 1847-1876
• Slavery at Fort Taylor & Fort Jefferson
• Africans in America/Part 1/The Slave Deck
• The Slave-Trade: The New York Times
• Floridian Businessman, Politician, Marshal
• Burial Ground Marks Slave Rescue Effort - The Washington Post
• More AFRICAN CEMETERY 1860 | MelFisher.org
• African Cemetery at Higgs Beach

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