More than 200 years had passed, when in May of 1991 the African Burial Ground was unearthed in New York City. The recovery of this important cultural resource during the pre-construction phase for a federal office building, deeply impacted the descendant and broader community, having brought about a renewed awareness that has motivated dynamic discourse on cultural significance and historic preservation. It's rediscovery had afforded a rare opportunity for reclaiming a neglected part of American history. The site was unique due to its prominence as a physical reminder of New York's early African community. At the time of rediscovery, it was recognized as the largest and only known urban pre-Revolutionary African cemetery in America.

The African Burial Ground is believed to have encompassed five to six acres of lower Manhattan, including City Hall Park. During the 1700's when the burial ground was mainly in use, Africans made up from 14.4% to 20.9% of the population. Consistent with the marginal status of Africans in colonial society, the burial ground was described as a desolate piece of unappropriated land and was located outside of the city limits. According to city maps, by the late 1700's the oldest portions of the cemetery were already being covered over by development. As the city expanded, the existence of the African Burial Ground was eventually forgotten.