Laurel Grove South Cemetery is a traditionally African-American Cemetery containing over 90,000 burials. Formerly known as Laurel Grove Cemetery (Colored), it was divided from Laurel Grove North (traditionally a white cemetery) due to construction of the Interstate-16 Connector in the mid-late 20th century. Laurel Grove South Cemetery is located on the west side of Savannah on a portion of the former Springfield Plantation. Named after the native laurel oak trees, which once inhabited the site, the cemetery was developed in 1850 as the Old Cemetery (Colonial Park Cemetery), the Old Jewish Cemetery, Potter’s Field, and the Old Negro Cemetery approached capacity. Although there are dozens of African American cemeteries in Chatham County, Laurel Grove South is the most significant final resting place for African Americans who died in the 19th and 20th Centuries. While slavery was still legal, there were more free African Americans interred in Laurel Grove South than any other cemetery in the Southeast. The cemetery serves as a culturally and historically significant site for African American religion, education, civil rights, and business. Consisting of 90 acres, the cemetery is a public park-like open space with massive cypress trees towering from its wetlands. It is open to the public daily from 8:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m.