LITTLE FERRY, N.J.—The Bergen County Division of Cultural & Historic Affairs invites the public to visit historic Gethsemane Cemetery in Little Ferry for self-guided tours in honor of Juneteenth on Friday, June 19, from noon to 4 p.m.
Established in 1860, Gethsemane Cemetery served as the final resting place for Hackensack’s Black community members who were denied burial in the general cemetery because of segregation. The site holds the graves of more than 500 people, including formerly enslaved people, local entrepreneurs, and two Civil War veterans.
County officials describe the cemetery as one of Bergen County’s most important historic sites, offering visitors an opportunity to reflect on an often-overlooked chapter of local history.
No reservations are required. Gethsemane Cemetery is between Summit Place and Liberty Street, north of Route 46, with the entrance on Summit Place in Little Ferry.
A recorded tour featuring historian Dr. Arnold Brown of Englewood, whose advocacy helped preserve the site, is available on YouTube. The cemetery is owned by Bergen County and is also open for private tours through the Division of Cultural & Historic Affairs.
For more information, call (201) 336-7294.