Cultural Preservation through Placekeeping: Archaeological GIS and Descendant-led Efforts in the Tenth Street Historic District, Dallas, Texas

Summary

This is an abstract from the session entitled "Cities on the Move: Reflecting on Urban Archaeology in the 21st Century", at the 2025 annual meeting of the Society for Historical Archaeology.

The Oak Cliff neighborhood of Dallas was once home to a thriving Freedmen’s Town. Established on the outskirts of elite, white Oak Cliff in the 1880s, over time the Freedmen’s Town grew to encompass hundreds of residences, community anchors, and businesses. However, by the mid-20th century, the city labeled it as a slum, justifying clearance, urban renewal, and infrastructure projects that displaced residents, segregated the community, and disrupted its fabric, cutting off the community’s circulation. Today, what remains of Oak Cliff’s Freedmen’s Town proudly endures in the Tenth Street Historic District – a testament to the resilience of its descendants. In the face of historical erasures and ongoing challenges, descendants boldly define, preserve, and envision a vibrant future for their community. This paper discusses how archaeological GIS and placekeeping strategies support descendants in chronicling their history, challenging harmful narratives, and envisioning Tenth Street as a cultural heritage destination.

This Resource is Part of the Following Collections

• Cities on the Move: Reflecting on Urban Archaeology in the 21st Century   •
• Society for Historical Archaeology 2025

Keywords

Individual & Institutional Roles

Contact(s): Nicole Haddow