A small plot of land on the corner of Liberty Road and Devereux Drive in Natchez, Mississippi, has almost no indication of the deep history it holds. Dating back to 1833, it was here that the second busiest slave market in the Deep South operated, forcing tens of thousands of Black men, women, and children from Virginia, Maryland, Kentucky, and the Carolinas to be bought and sold into slavery.

The journey for many was a death sentence. Shackled, forced into hard labor, and transported to unfamiliar states, this site known as Forks of the Road operated until the arrival of the Union Army in 1863. The Union Army was joined by the 58th Regiment of the U.S. Colored Troops, many of whom were former slaves, and together they tore down the slave pens that were used in this horrific system of human trafficking.

Trust for Public Land is dedicated to telling a more complete American story through the preservation of Black history and culture sites, which is why we’re partnering with the National Park Service to protect this land that holds so much history. We’ve already safeguarded 1.12 acres at Forks of the Road, helping expand Natchez National Historical Park and allowing visitors to confront this tragic chapter of our nation’s history.

But by preserving this site, we’re also helping elevate the enduring spirit of Black Americans as we work to amplify their stories to their rightful place. It is important that the Black Americans that helped build and cultivate our country are justly honored and remembered through the conservation of stories and places like Forks of the Road.