HUNTSVILLE, Ala. — The Twickenham Town Chapter of the National Society Daughters of the American Revolution (NSDAR) has received national recognition for its efforts to preserve and honor local African American history.
The chapter’s Glenwood Cemetery project has been named the 2026 National First Place Winner in the NSDAR Historic Preservation Project Contest. The award highlights the group’s work in documenting and sharing the history of Glenwood Cemetery, Huntsville’s oldest surviving African American burial ground, established in 1870.
Through the initiative, members transformed decades of privately held research into a publicly accessible digital archive and virtual walking tour, ensuring that the stories of those buried at Glenwood are preserved and visible for future generations.
The project was led by Historic Preservation Committee Chair Penny Sumners, Registrar Dr. Dorla Evans, historian Ollye Conley and Huntsville Cemetery Director Tara Sloan. Together with community volunteers and local partners, the team documented the lives of 72 individuals interred at the cemetery.
The virtual tour, available both on-site through a QR-coded sign and online, includes biographical narratives, photographs, census data and military records — including stories of African American soldiers who served in the United States Colored Troops.
About Glenwood Cemetery: Established in 1870, Glenwood Cemetery is Huntsville’s oldest surviving African American burial ground and a significant site of Black history in North Alabama. Created during the Reconstruction era, the cemetery became the final resting place for formerly enslaved individuals, educators, laborers, veterans and community leaders. Many of those interred helped build and shape Huntsville in the decades following the Civil War. Despite its historical importance, much of Glenwood’s history remained undocumented for years. Today, preservation efforts are helping restore its legacy, ensuring the stories of those buried there are recognized, honored and shared with future generations.
By making this history accessible to students, researchers and the broader community, the project stands as a lasting tribute to Huntsville’s African American heritage.
The award will be presented June 25, 2026, during the NSDAR Continental Congress in Washington, D.C. The project can be viewed online at the Clio historical platform.
