On April 25, 2025, the Museum of Durham History hosted a festive opening for its newest exhibition, Unearthing Stories of Geer Cemetery: Using Archaeology to Reclaim, Restore, and Respect Sacred Space. The Cemetery is one of Durham’s earliest African American burial grounds, used in the late 1800s to early 1900s.

Guests enjoyed live music by Allie Capo, complimentary biscuit-themed bites as a nod to the Biscuits & Banjos Festival that was taking place in Durham that weekend, and remarks from members of the Friends of Geer Cemetery (FoGC) — community partners and researchers dedicated to preserving the legacy of Geer Cemetery. FoGC Chair Debra Taylor Gonzales-Garcia reminded the crowd that this exhibit invites the community “to honor sacred spaces, remember Durham’s past, and reflect on the importance of preservation for future generations.”

The exhibit, which will stay open through mid-October, highlights the role of archaeology in uncovering Durham’s African American history, focusing on three artifacts unearthed at Geer Cemetery as a way for visitors to learn how archaeology, genealogy, and preservation come together to share the personal and community stories of those buried there.

Since the opening, the Museum has offered several programs to complement the exhibit, presented with the FoGC. On June 2, Adam Rosenblatt shared his point of view about the current shifting political sands, which, in his opinion, make it more important than ever to document the stories of African Americans, as he has done in his recently-published book, Cemetery Citizens: Reclaiming the Past and Working for Justice in American Burial Grounds. Adam was accompanied by Debra Taylor Gonzales-Garcia, who shared more stories about Geer Cemetery, as it was featured in the book.

On July 18, the Museum hosted another opening for the debut of Day of Honor Posts, the second phase of Unearthing Stories of Geer Cemetery. The evening gathering celebrated the installation of a new outdoor banner series around the Museum’s gazebo, highlighting the lives of ten individuals buried at Geer Cemetery. The stories are drawn from the FoGC’s “Day of Honor” project, which began with 89 identified individuals whose histories are being uncovered through careful archival research.

Guests explored the banners while learning about the FoGC volunteers’ ongoing work, as they continue to restore the cemetery grounds and trace the lives of those interred there. The opening served as both a celebration and a moment of reflection—recognizing names like Pearson and Faucette that are familiar in Durham today, as well as honoring many whose contributions have long gone unrecognized.

On August 4, a group from the Forest at Duke visited us for a private tour of the Museum, where the group enjoyed snacks and beverages, as well as a tour of Unearthing Stories of Geer Cemetery and remarks by executive director Patrick Mucklow.

Then, on August 23, the Museum hosted a community pop-up event exploring the history of Geer Cemetery. Visitors were able to view and touch artifacts uncovered at the site, learn about genealogy and archival research from partner organizations, and participate in family-friendly activities that connected archaeology, preservation, and personal history. Community partners set up tables and information so that visitors could learn more from the Friends of Geer Cemetery, Preservation Durham, Historic Stagville Foundation, and the North Carolina Collection at the Durham County Library.

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The Museum is grateful to the Snyderman Fund, Historic Stagville Foundation, ACME Plumbing, Fox Family Foundation, and Duke Community Affairs for their support of this exhibit.