Prince Hall Mystic Cemetery, historic cemetery in Massachusetts, United States
Prince Hall Mystic Cemetery is a burial ground in Arlington, Massachusetts, established in the 1860s for members of the Prince Hall Masonic Lodge. The grounds contain simple gravestones arranged in rows, shade trees, and include a small monument with remnants of the original gate and an obelisk visible from historical surveys.
The cemetery was deeded to the Prince Hall Masonic Lodge in 1864 and officially dedicated in 1868, serving as a burial ground until around 1897. Forgotten for nearly a century, it was rediscovered in 1987 and restored in 1990 before being added to the National Register of Historic Places in 1998.
The cemetery served as a gathering place for the community during times when safe spaces for African Americans were limited. Today it remains a place where people honor shared history and maintain connections to their ancestors.
The cemetery is open during daylight hours and features wide paths for easy walking. Visitors are encouraged to move slowly and observe respectful silence to maintain the peaceful and reflective character of the grounds.
This is possibly the only surviving Prince Hall Masonic cemetery in the United States and represents the early history of that movement. Annual Memorial Day ceremonies bring Masonic members together, and they also visit Prince Hall's grave at Copps Hill in Boston as part of the remembrance tradition.
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