A historic but forgotten Black cemetery in Richmond will soon be recognized with a state history marker.

The Virginia Board of Historic Resources on June 17 approved the creation of a marker to call attention to what is now called the Shockoe Hill African Burying Ground, located at 5th and Hospital streets in North Side.

An estimated 22,000 people — some enslaved, some free — were buried between 1816 and 1879 at this city-owned cemetery that ranks as one of the largest municipal cemeteries for Black people in the United States.

The new marker is among a series of Black history markers the board approved at last Thursday’s meeting, including new markers for the oldest Black churches in Richmond’s South Side, First Baptist Church of South Richmond and its predecessor, the African Church of Manchester that dates to 1821.

As for the cemetery, the state Department of Historic Resources plans to work with the city on a specific site for the marker and a time and date for an unveiling ceremony.

Through time, the city sold the forgotten cemetery for a va- riety of uses, including a now-defunct repair shop that was built on top of hundreds of graves. The bones of those buried in the cemetery often were discovered after excavations and storms, with people puzzled about how they got there.

“This is another step in bringing attention to this sacred ground,” said Lenora McQueen, a Texas educator who has led the fight to prevent further damage to a burial ground where up to five of her ancestors are buried.

During the past three years, Ms. McQueen blocked the city’s sale of the property for unpaid taxes and led an effort that pushed the city into repurchasing a portion of the cemetery.

She has been engaged with scholars in securing historic designation for the property and ensuring the cemetery will be taken into account as efforts continue to bring higher-speed rail to the Downtown train station.

Ms. McQueen also was instrumental in getting the property listed on Preservation Virginia’s most recent list of endangered historic properties and in ensuring the state Department of Historic Resources considered the cemetery for a history marker.