Article header image, Bergen County Seal

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE:
June 16, 2026

MEDIA CONTACT:
Derek Sands
DSands@BergenCountyNJ.gov

GETHSEMANE CEMETERY OPEN FOR JUNETEENTH COMMEMORATION

Division of Cultural and Historic Affairs invites public for self-guided tours of historic African American burial ground

Gethsemane Tours 2026

(HACKENSACK, NJ) – In honor of Juneteenth, the Bergen County Department of Parks, through the Division of Cultural & Historic Affairs (DCHA), invites the public to visit the historic Gethsemane Cemetery in Little Ferry for a self-guided this Friday, June 19, from 12-4PM.

Established in 1860, Gethsemane Cemetery serves as the final resting place for Hackensack’s Black community, who were denied burial in the general cemetery due to segregation. The site holds the graves of over 500 individuals, including formerly enslaved people, local entrepreneurs, and two Civil War veterans.

The DCHA, in its mission to preserve our history, holds Gethsemane Cemetery as one of the most crucial and important historic sites in Bergen County. Visiting the site reveals a powerful atmosphere that invites visitors to not only memorialize the deceased, but to reflect on an often-overlooked chapter of Bergen County’s history.

No reservations necessary.

  • Who: Bergen County Division of Cultural & Historic Affairs
  • What: Self-guided tours of Gethsemane Cemetery
  • When: Friday, June 19, 12 PM–4 PM
  • Where: Gethsemane Cemetery – Between Summit Place & Liberty Street (entrance on Summit Place), north of Route 46, Little Ferry
  • Why: To honor Juneteenth and illuminate an underrepresented story in local history

A recorded tour of Gethsemane Cemetery, featuring historian Dr. Arnold Brown of Englewood—whose advocacy was key to preserving the site—is available on YouTube. The Cemetery is owned by the County and is also open for private tours through the DCHA. For more information, contact 201-336-7294.

The Bergen County Division of Cultural & Historic Affairs proudly supports the arts, history, and preservation, fostering a vibrant cultural landscape that sets Bergen County apart as a premier New Jersey destination.

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