Visit Black Sheriffs' Memorial

Washington, DC — The Lucius D. Amerson Bridge Builder Foundation, led by Anthony E. Amerson, invites the public to visit the Black Sheriffs’ Memorial, a powerful, self-guided historical experience honoring African-American sheriffs past and present.

Founded in honor of Lucius D. Amerson—the first Black sheriff elected in the South post-Reconstruction (1966)—the Memorial preserves a legacy made possible by the Voting Rights Act of 1965 and celebrates the sheriffs who reshaped American law enforcement.

What You’ll Experience

• A QR-code enhanced self-guided tour with steel-etched monoliths honoring trailblazers, including:
• • Walter Moses Burton – First Black sheriff elected in the U.S. (1869)
  • Nathaniel Glover – First Black sheriff elected in Florida
  • William Bill Lucas – First Black sheriff elected in Michigan
  • Jackie Barrett-Washington – First Black woman elected sheriff in the nation (1992)
• A granite statue of Sheriff Lucius D. Amerson
• An indoor exhibit with period music, featuring:
• • “Sisters with Badges” — honoring all currently serving African-American women sheriffs
  • “Sheriffs of the Past” — first Black sheriffs by state
• Storytelling on Sheriff Amerson’s life, leadership, and influence on American culture
• A gift shop with commemorative coins, books, and custom framed artwork