TAMPA, Fla. — A new memorial was unveiled Monday to honor those buried in a forgotten African American cemetery discovered on the grounds of King High School in Tampa.

The memorial features a white marble statue with bronze wings symbolizing a dove taking flight, along with markers at each burial site. 

What You Need To Know

The memorial monument is within the burial grounds and is positioned in an area not to disturb any burials underneath.

In the fall of 2019, the Hillsborough school district received information from a citizen about a possible cemetery on the property at King High School. The district hired a team of geophysical technicians to begin mapping and scanning the southern end of the campus.  

The scans conducted by the technicians found evidence of approximately 145 burials still intact.

Through historical city and county records, documents show that in 1933, 90 years ago, the city of Tampa bought a 40-acre parcel at this location.

An area on the southern part of the property became a pauper’s cemetery to bury African American and other indigent residents until 1954. 

Historical records vary, but they show between 250 and 268 burials at Ridgewood Cemetery. 

After several years and transactions, the school district eventually bought the property and King High School was built, opening on the north end of the property. 

With the memorial, the individuals buried at Ridgewood Cemetery will be remembered, school district officials said. 

District leaders said they are grateful for the members of the Historical Response Committee, a group of local community representatives who were brought together in 2019 by the district to discuss proper ways to memorialize the individuals at Ridgewood Cemetery.