The Burr Oak Cemetery, known as the final resting place of civil rights figure Emmett Till, has been recommended for inclusion on the National Register of Historic Places. This recognition comes from the Illinois Historic Sites Advisory Council and highlights the cemetery’s significance not only for its famous residents but also for its historical role in the African American community.
Located in Alsip, Illinois, Burr Oak Cemetery was established in 1927 on a 40-acre site at the intersection of 127th Street and Kostner Avenue. Today, the cemetery spans 150 acres and contains approximately 33,000 marked graves. Among these is the flat bronze headstone of Emmett Till, a 14-year-old African American whose brutal lynching in Mississippi in 1955 galvanized the civil rights movement. His mother, Mamie Till Mobley, is also interred at the cemetery, where she became a prominent advocate for justice and civil rights.
Burr Oak Cemetery holds a unique place in history. It was one of the few cemeteries in the area that served Black residents and remains the only cemetery that is both Black-owned and managed. This establishment faced significant challenges in its early years, including opposition from White residents. The efforts to create a burial ground for Black individuals reflect the broader struggle for civil rights and equality during a tumultuous period in American history.
The process for national recognition typically proceeds smoothly once a site is recommended. However, due to the ongoing government shutdown, the final addition of Burr Oak Cemetery to the National Register has been temporarily delayed.
Other notable cemeteries listed on the National Register include Bohemian National Cemetery, Rosehill Cemetery, and Graceland Cemetery. Well-known locations in Illinois that have received similar recognition include Abraham Lincoln’s birthplace and tomb in Springfield, the Adler Planetarium, and the historic Carson Pirie Scott & Company store.
As the recognition process unfolds, the potential designation of Burr Oak Cemetery could serve as a powerful reminder of the ongoing fight for civil rights and the important stories of those interred there.
