The Tampa Housing Authority (THA) is honoring the city’s African-American heritage by moving a housing development built on top of Tampa’s first black cemetery and replacing it with a memorial.
Like many cemeteries built for African-Americans during the 19th century, Tampa’s Zion cemetery had been long forgotten and disrespected. Multiple land uses had been built over the plots, with a THA housing project being the most recent use, occupying much of the area. Once the Authority discovered the remains it began an initiative to replace its housing development with a memorial garden honoring the people who remain buried on the site. It is hoped that other uses on the site will follow suit.
