Arlington’s Stumbling Stones Remind Residents of Black History

Some of land along today’s Langston Blvd. corridor was once farmed by enslaved people in the 1700s-1800s. Now two “stumbling stones,” one in Lyon Village and the other in North Highlands, have been installed to memorialize them. The bronze markers, embedded in sidewalks, mark the last known location where the enslaved person lived.

More than 50 people gathered on Oct. 26 at 1412 N. Highland St. for the unveiling of the stumbling stone honoring a young woman, name unknown, who was born in the vicinity around 1835.

Another stumbling stone has been placed in the North Highlands neighborhood at N. Taft St and N. 21^st streets, with the ceremony scheduled for Saturday, Nov. 1 at 3 pm. This Stumbling Stone honors Henry and Bess, two enslaved individuals born before 1735.

Enslaved people in Arlington remained in bondage until the passage of the Emancipation Proclamation on Jan. 1, 1863. The MEA project (Memorializing the Enslaved) is sponsored by the Arlington Historical Society and the Black Heritage Museum of Arlington. Research has been done to establish correct names and dates for the enslaved, where possible. So far, research has revealed over 2,750 enslaved people in Arlington and has identified 1,050 by name.

See more information, a map, and sponsorship opportunities for other stumbling stones in the works.