Baptist Hill Cemetery, situated in the heart of Auburn, has been a landmark of the town since its establishment. Serving as a reminder of Auburn's history, Baptist Hill is the segregated resting place for hundreds of named and unnamed Black Auburn residents. With the oldest headstone dating to 1879, and many more undated, Baptist Hill Cemetery is a physical landmark to those who were freed from the institution of slavery following the Civil War, and many more who lived through the tumultuous years to follow.

Resting here are teachers, community and faith leaders, veterans, citizens and ex-slaves who all had a key role in building the Auburn that we are lucky to enjoy today. It should go without saying that the current state of the cemetery is unacceptable- unmarked graves grown over with weeds, grave markers cracked and decaying, headstones knocked over and covered in dirt, and trash littering the grass. This is a space that weighs heavy on the collective history of Auburn, and to be left in its current state is an affront to the concept of the "Auburn Family".

The historical marker states that while "maintained" by the City of Auburn, the owner of the Baptist Hill Cemetery is unknown. We petition the City government to acquire the cemetery, and give it the renovation that the individuals who built this town deserve.