How has Sugar Land worked to preserve prison-related history?

The city is committed to honoring the history of the Old Imperial Farm Cemetery and the surrounding prison operation: 


  • Sugar Land maintains the cemetery.
  • The City made significant contributions to the Houston Museum of Natural Science in Sugar Land, which was built inside what was once the Main Unit, known as Two Camp, where the prison’s black inmates were held. The museum has included an exhibit documenting the experiences and contributions of African-Americans.
  • The City worked with the Fort Bend Historical Commission to submit an application to Texas Historical Commission (THC) for a permanent educational historical marker at the cemetery.  The marker was installed with a ceremonial celebration.
  • The Imperial Farm Cemetery was declared a Historic Texas Cemetery in 2007 in an application that was made in collaboration with the Fort Bend Historical Commission and approved by the THC. The City has protected and maintained the prison cemetery property since taking ownership.


Show All Answers

1. Why did the City enter into an agreement with FBISD?
2. Where is the Old Imperial Prison Farm Cemetery located?
3. Who is buried there now? How many graves, and are they all leased prison labor too?
4. Will DNA testing be performed on the individuals? If not, why?
5. Will the City apologize for what happened in its history?
6. How were the graves discovered and by whom?
7. How many graves were discovered?
8. Can you describe the individuals found? Were they males? What ages? When do the graves date from?
9. Has construction at the site been stopped?
10. What governmental entities are involved?
11. What educational projects do the school district and City plan to implement to pay honor to the finding?
12. What was the convict leasing and labor program?
13. When did the city acquire the cemetery?
14. Why did the city acquire the cemetery?
15. How has the city protected the cemetery?
16. Has the city worked with local groups to honor the cemetery’s history?
17. Has an archeological survey been performed?
18. Have other surveys been performed?
19. Will future surveys be performed?
20. What is the status of parkland development on city-owned property surrounding the cemetery?
21. How has Sugar Land worked to preserve prison-related history?
22. Does the city have a museum?
23. What is the Convict Leasing and Labor Project (CLLP)? What role will they play in honoring the individuals?
24. What is the Texas Slave Descendant’s Society?
25. What are the concerns of the National Black United Front?
26. What was the recommendation of the Task Force?
27. What did City Council approve?
28. Does the interlocal agreement specify a specific location for re-interment?
29. Who is responsible for choosing a site for re-interment?