Trips Places Foods Stories Newsletters
Loading...
Loading...
Loading...
Loading...

No search results found for
“”

Make sure words are spelled correctly.

Try searching for a travel destination.

Places near me Random place

Popular Destinations

  • Paris
  • London
  • New York
  • Berlin
  • Rome
  • Los Angeles
Trips Places Foods Stories Newsletters
Sign In Join
Places near me Random place
All the United States Florida West Palm Beach Hurricane of 1928 Mass Burial Site
AO Edited

Hurricane of 1928 Mass Burial Site

This mass grave for victims of a massive hurricane remained hidden until 1991.

West Palm Beach, Florida

Added By
Alan Newman
Email
Been Here
Want to go
Added to list
CAPTION
Hurricane of 1928 Mass Burial Site   Skeeter451
  wherearewedude / Atlas Obscura User
  bsuto / Atlas Obscura User
  wherearewedude / Atlas Obscura User
  wherearewedude / Atlas Obscura User
  bsuto / Atlas Obscura User
  Collector of Experiences / Atlas Obscura User
  Collector of Experiences / Atlas Obscura User
Hurricane of 1928 Mass Burial Site   Eyabe
Hurricane of 1928 Mass Burial Site   Eyabe
  wherearewedude / Atlas Obscura User
Been Here
Want to go
Added to list

About

When a hurricane struck the Florida coast on Sept, 16, 1928, it washed away a flimsy dike on Lake Okeechobee. The storm would kill at least 2,500 people in Florida and the United States, perhaps as many as 3,000, making it the greatest storm in terms of deaths in U.S. history. behind only the 1900 Galveston hurricane. Thousands more died in the Caribbean. The storm prompted construction of the giant dike that now surrounds the massive lake.

About 60 White victims were buried in a mass grave in the prestigious Woodlawn Cemetery. Segregation laws at the time prevented the burial of Black residents in that cemetery. Nearly 700 people of color were dumped in a mass grave at a pauper's graveyard at the corner of Tamarind Avenue and 25th Street.

While the mass grave at Woodlawn was marked with a memorial, the Tamarind Avenue site was largely forgotten until 1991, when a Nigerian religious service was held at the location. The site had passed through various owners over the years and was used as a garbage dump, slaughterhouse, and sewage treatment works.

The City of West Palm Beach purchased the land in 2000, and in 2003, a state historical marker was put in place by the city for the 75th anniversary of the storm. 

Related Tags

Burial Places History & Culture Black History African American

Community Contributors

Added By

Dr Alan P Newman

Edited By

williamjmcfarland87, eliot 1c7c8a6f, bsuto, Collector of Experiences...

  • williamjmcfarland87
  • eliot 1c7c8a6f
  • bsuto
  • Collector of Experiences
  • wherearewedude

Published

April 26, 2021

Edit this listing

Make an Edit
Add Photos
Sources
  • https://ekfla.com/books#/black-cloud/
  • https://blackthen.com/floridas-okeechobee-hurricane-of-1928-and-the-disgraceful-burial-for-thousands-of-blacks/
Hurricane of 1928 Mass Burial Site
924 25th St
West Palm Beach, Florida, 33407
United States
26.735951, -80.062632
Get Directions

Nearby Places

Lost City of Mangonia

West Palm Beach, Florida

miles away

Coral Cut

Palm Beach, Florida

miles away

Henry Morrison Flagler Museum

Palm Beach, Florida

miles away

Explore the Destination Guide

Photo of West Palm Beach

West Palm Beach

Florida

Places 4

Nearby Places

Lost City of Mangonia

West Palm Beach, Florida

miles away

Coral Cut

Palm Beach, Florida

miles away

Henry Morrison Flagler Museum

Palm Beach, Florida

miles away

Explore the Destination Guide

Photo of West Palm Beach

West Palm Beach

Florida

Places 4

Related Places

  • Statue of William Lanson and Plaque.

    New Haven, Connecticut

    Statue of "King" William Lanson

    This statue honors a pillar of the early New Haven Black community.

  • Mount Moor Cemetery.

    West Nyack, New York

    Mount Moor Cemetery

    A historic Black graveyard hidden in the parking lot of one of America's largest malls.

  • The words “Dare to dream” are engraved on the Salem Avenue entrance of Roanoke’s last steel truss bridge.

    Roanoke, Virginia

    Henry Street

    In the 1920s, this stretch of Roanoke became home to a thriving Black community.

  • The catfish arrives perfectly seasoned.

    Asheville, North Carolina

    Good Hot Fish

    Chef Ashleigh Shanti serves up a classic Appalachian fish fry.

  • Naydja Cojoe takes the stage at the Dew Drop Inn.

    New Orleans, Louisiana

    Dew Drop Inn

    First opened in 1939, this legendary performance venue was a haven for Black musicians including Ray Charles and Little Richard.

  • Addolorata Cemetery.

    Raħal Ġdid, Malta

    Addolorata Cemetery

    Malta’s largest cemetery is a Victorian-era architectural masterpiece.

  • Ahlat, Turkey

    Ahlat Seljuk Cemetery

    Hundreds of medieval Islamic gravestones decorate the mountainous landscape in the largest cemetery in Turkey.

  • Sortino, Italy

    Necropolis of Pantalica

    Thousands of rock-cut tombs fill the cliffs of this Sicilian nature preserve.

Aerial image of Vietnam, displaying the picturesque rice terraces, characterized by their layered, verdant fields.
Atlas Obscura Membership

Become an Atlas Obscura Member


Join our community of curious explorers.

Become a Member

Get Our Email Newsletter

Follow Us

Facebook YouTube TikTok Instagram Pinterest RSS Feed

Get the app

Download the App
Download on the Apple App Store Get it on Google Play
  • All Places
  • Latest Places
  • Most Popular
  • Places to Eat
  • Random
  • Nearby
  • Add a Place
  • Stories
  • Food & Drink
  • Itineraries
  • Lists
  • Video
  • Podcast
  • Newsletters
  • All Trips
  • Family Trip
  • Food & Drink
  • History & Culture
  • Wildlife & Nature
  • FAQ
  • Membership
  • Feedback & Ideas
  • Community Guidelines
  • Product Blog
  • Unique Gifts
  • Work With Us
  • About
  • FAQ
  • Advertise With Us
  • Advertising Guidelines
  • Privacy Policy
  • Cookie Policy
  • Terms of Use
Atlas Obscura

© 2025 Atlas Obscura. All Rights Reserved.