The African Burying Ground was active from its opening in February 1816 until its closure by the city due to overcrowded conditions in June 1879.

The land that comprises this long unacknowledged burial ground, contains nothing on its surface that would cause it to be visibly recognizable as a cemetery today.

[8] The 1835 Plan of the City of Richmond has it recorded as the "Grave Yard for Free People of Colour" and "For Slaves".

[11] In 1850 the Common Council increased the burying-ground for colored persons by 9 acres in addition to the grounds of the City Hospital.

[13] On the 1856 Map of the city of Richmond, Henrico County, the entire burying ground (black and white) appears under one name, without the additional labels showing its segregated status.

Shortly after the war their remains were removed from the African Burying Ground and then re-interred in the Richmond National Cemetery.

The 1816 plan of the city property shows that the northern grounds of the hospital were already in use for the interment of paupers who had died at the Poorhouse, both black and white.

An old Sunoco gas station sits upon a portion of its original 2 acres, along with a billboard; while other parts lie beneath Interstate 64, 4th St., 5th St., 7th St. Hospital St. and also the railroad tracks.

[25][26][27] The most recently known appears to be the installation of underground cables which were run through the burial ground in the area of Hospital St. and 7th St. in early 2022.

But physically, it is the older African Burial Ground in Shockoe Bottom (which was closed in 1816) that is located next to Lumpkin's Slave Jail.

Reports of interments were regularly made and submitted to the Richmond City Council by the Superintendent of the Shockoe Hill Burying Ground.

Recent advocacy led by Lenora McQueen, a descendant of people interred at the Shockoe Hill African Burying Ground, resulted in gaining the support of the city of Richmond.

[31] Ordinance #2020-213 added the property at 1305 N 5th St. to the Richmond Slave Trail, and provided for the funding of its intended acquisition.

Archived October 14, 2022, at the Wayback Machine was presented before the Virginia State Review Board, seeking approval to write the nomination for the Shockoe Hill Burying Ground Historic District for listing in the Virginia Landmarks Register (VLR) and the National Register of Historic Places (NRHP).

October 20, 2021 – at the CTB Rail and Transit Subcommittee Meeting, it was announced by the Chair Jennifer Mitchell that the DC2RVA, Section 106 Process: Federal Railroad Administration (FRA) was reopening the National Historic Preservation Act Section 106 consultation process for the DC to Richmond High Speed Rail (DC2RVA).

This was due in part to the presence of a "new National Register of Historic Places (NRHP) eligible resources in the area of potential effects (APE), the Shockoe Hill Burying Ground Historic District (127-7231), and one resource with expanded boundaries, the Shockoe Hill African Burying Ground (44HE1203).

"[37] December 2021 – The Cultural Landscape Foundation featured the Shockoe Hill African Burying Ground in its online exhibition, Landslide 2021: Race and Space.

February 17, 2022 – Congressman Donald McEachin and Senator Tim Kaine support the nomination for the Shockoe Hill Burying Ground Historic District (which includes the Shockoe Hill African Burying Ground) to the National Register of Historic Places.

March 17, 2022 – The Shockoe Hill Burying Ground Historic District was added to the Virginia Landmarks Register.

June 12, 2022 – the Historic Highway Marker for the Shockoe Hill African Burying Ground was unveiled at 1305 N 5th St.

February 1, 2023 - the Virginia Department of Historic Resources (DHR) agreed with the FRA's adverse effect determination.

June 26, 2024 - 2nd Shockoe Hill African Burying Ground Memorial Community Engagement Session for the 1.2 acre city owned portion of the Shockoe Hill African Burying Ground (site of the billboard and abandoned gas station at 1305 N 5th St.) July 17, 2024 - 3rd Shockoe Hill African Burying Ground Memorial Community Engagement Session for the 1.2 acre city owned portion of the Shockoe Hill African Burying Ground (site of the billboard and abandoned gas station at 1305 N 5th St.) November 12, 2024 - Ordinance 2024-283 was passed by the Richmond City Council making 1305 N 5th St, (a 1.2 acre parcel of the 31 acre Shockoe Hill African Burying Ground) an official cemetery on record.