The History of the Cemetery 

The Old Quindaro Cemetery may possibly be the oldest African American Cemetery in the state of Kansas. The existence of the Quindaro Cemeteries began during the Civil War and Post-Civil War Era. It was located in the area known as "Old Quindaro" of Wyandotte County, Kansas. The First Cemetery is located at 38th and Parallel now known as Mount Hope Cemetery. The South Western part of the cemetery (known as the Quindaro Section) was used to bury the African American community residents. This cemetery is commonly referred to as the "South Cemetery." 

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The entry to the second cemetery is located at 32nd and Sewell. The actual cemetery is positioned to the North, approximately fifty yards on the upper Northwestern Slope, past the Old Brewery in the are of Old Quindaro. This was the cemetery used by the African American community during the post Civil War to World War I era. This area was populated by those citizens known as "Exodusters." This cemetery is commonly referred to as the "North Cemetery."

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Families that are documented to be early residents, also known as "Seekers of Freedom" because of their escaped slave status were the Monroe Family, Turner Family, Banks Family, Marshall Family, Grigsby Family, Harris Family, Endicott Family, Barnett Family, Duncan Family, Creek Family, Graves Family, Murray Family and the Sanders Family. Members of these families are buried in both the North and South Cemeteries. 

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Historically the upkeep (grass cutting, grave opening/closing and general maintenance) and organization of the cemetery was handled by the local Quindaro community through the "Quindaro Triangle", a triumvirate of three churches that were chartered in the community. The A.M.E church (now known as Allen Chapel AME), The First Baptist Church of Quindaro and The Church of God in Christ. These 3 denominations shared a vested interest in the good of the community. Today upkeep is handled by the Unified Government of Wyandotte County because of a law championed by a Quindaro Resident. The late Clarence Love, former State Representative for, 34th District. He is responsible for guiding the Abandoned Cemetery Act through the Kansas Legislature in 1978. This Bill, K.S.A 12-1441 forced each individual county to assume responsibility for the maintenance and upkeep of any abandoned cemetery 

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As of today the North cemetery is behind a locked gate, to prevent dumping by loiterers. The South Cemetery is open 24/7 and always accessible to the public. The gate at the North Cemetery can be opened upon request and burials still take place. You are required to be a descendant of an escaped slave family to be buried in the area.