Charleston Museum Will Host Cemetery Cleanup Event
The September 26 event honors late preservation advocates at the 580-acre Dill Sanctuary.
Updated on Sept. 23, 2026 in African-American
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The Charleston Museum and the James Island Association to Protect and Preserve Black Cemeteries will hold a cleanup at the Dill Sanctuary on September 26, 2026. This initiative aims to maintain the site while honoring the legacies of Thomas Johnson and Eugene Frazier Sr.
Why it matters
This effort draws attention to the preservation of burial sites for those who labored on the land until the 1970s. By identifying unmarked graves, organizers seek to protect local history that was long excluded from formal records.
The Dill Sanctuary encompasses 580 acres on James Island and includes 83 identified graves. The site served as a home and workplace for African American laborers until the 1970s.
The players
The Charleston Museum
This institution owns and manages the Dill Sanctuary site on James Island.
James Island Association to Protect and Preserve Black Cemeteries
This community organization coordinates efforts to maintain and document local historical burial grounds.
Thomas Johnson
He was a late local preservation advocate whose work helped protect Black burial sites.
Eugene Frazier Sr.
He was a dedicated preservationist recognized for his commitment to honoring local African American heritage.
The details
The project involved three phases of fieldwork including marking visible features and mapping the area. Community leaders collaborated with the museum to identify specific burial spots within the Dill's Slave Cemetery and Devil's Nest sections.
Timeline
African Americans lived and worked on the sanctuary until the 1970s.
The cemetery cleanup event is scheduled for September 26, 2026.
Culture Shift
The Dill Sanctuary cleanup aligns with the growing national movement to identify and restore historically marginalized burial grounds. This trend marks a shift away from ignoring neglected sites toward active community-led stewardship of local history.
Residents can participate in this effort to help maintain the historical integrity of the James Island site. This event allows community members to engage directly with local preservation work and honor the history of those who lived and labored in the area.
The takeaway
Maintaining these burial sites ensures that the contributions of past African American laborers are not lost to time. Active community participation remains the most effective tool for preventing historical erasure at local sites.
Further reading
Learn more about local efforts by visiting the African-American section.
Source note: This article includes information reported by Live5news.
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Should your local community prioritize the active preservation of historical cemeteries?
