Burr Oak Cemetery Gains Momentum for National Historic Recognition

The final resting place of civil rights figure Emmett Till may soon receive national recognition. The Burr Oak Cemetery Historic District, located in Alsip, Illinois, has been recommended for inclusion in the National Register of Historic Places by the Illinois Historic Sites Advisory Council. This cemetery is noted not only for being the burial site of Till but also for other prominent figures, including his mother, Mamie Till Mobley, and musicians Dinah Washington and King Von.

Established in 1927 on a 40-acre site at the intersection of 127th Street and Kostner Avenue, Burr Oak Cemetery has grown to encompass 150 acres, housing an estimated 33,000 marked graves. Till’s grave, marked by a flat bronze headstone, is located in the Maple Wood section of the cemetery. His tragic death at the age of 14 in 1955 after a lynching in Mississippi is widely viewed as a pivotal moment that galvanized the Civil Rights movement.

Burr Oak Cemetery holds historical significance as it was opened despite considerable White opposition. It became one of the few cemeteries in the area that served Black residents and was the only cemetery that was both Black-owned and managed. This context enhances its potential historical value as a site of cultural and civil rights heritage.

While the state typically facilitates the automatic addition of sites recommended for the register, the current government shutdown has introduced delays into the process. Other cemeteries that have been listed on the National Register include Bohemian National Cemetery, Rosehill Cemetery, and Graceland Cemetery.

Burr Oak Cemetery joins a distinguished list of nationally recognized sites in Illinois, which includes notable locations such as Abraham Lincoln’s birthplace and tomb in Springfield, the Adler Planetarium, and the historic Carson Pirie Scott & Company store. The potential listing of Burr Oak Cemetery not only honors the legacy of Emmett Till but also acknowledges the struggles and contributions of the African American community in the region.

The recognition could serve to further educate the public about the historical events surrounding Till’s life and the broader Civil Rights movement, enriching the narrative of American history. As the process unfolds, the community and advocates for civil rights await the next steps in securing the cemetery’s official status.