Richmond National Cemetery facts for kids
Richmond National Cemetery.
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| Details | |
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| Location | |
| Country | United States |
| Type | United States National Cemetery |
| Size | 9.7 acres (3.9 ha) |
| No. of interments | >11,000 |
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Richmond National Cemetery
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 Location in Virginia
Location in the United States
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| Location | 1701 Williamsburg Rd., near Richmond, Virginia |
| Area | 9.7 acres (3.9 ha) |
| Built | 1866 |
| Architect | Montgomery C. Meigs |
| Architectural style | Second Empire |
| MPS | Civil War Era National Cemeteries MPS |
| NRHP reference No. | 95001183 |
| Significant dates | |
| Added to NRHP | October 26, 1995 |
The Richmond National Cemetery is a special burial ground for soldiers in Virginia. It's about 3 miles east of Richmond in Henrico County, Virginia. This cemetery is managed by the United States Department of Veterans Affairs. It covers about 9.7 acres. As of 2021, over 11,000 people are buried there. No new burials are happening now. The cemetery became a historic place in 1995.
Contents
Cemetery History
The cemetery is located inside old defense lines. These lines were built to protect Richmond during the American Civil War. The Confederate army used them for protection. The United States Congress officially created the cemetery in 1866. However, the land was not bought until 1867. More land was purchased in 1868 and 1906. This made the cemetery the size it is today.
Early Burials and Reburials
The first burials in the cemetery were soldiers moved from other places. These places included Oakwood Cemetery and Hollywood Cemetery in Richmond. Most of these soldiers were from the Union Army. They had died from injuries while being prisoners of war in Richmond's military hospitals.
Soldiers who died as prisoners at Belle Island Prison Camp were also moved here. Some soldiers meant for Seven Pines National Cemetery and Cold Harbor National Cemetery were brought to Richmond instead. This happened because those smaller cemeteries quickly filled up. They filled up with burials after the war. Many soldiers from the battle of Seven Pines and the battle of Cold Harbor were reburied there.
More than 500 Union prisoners of war were also reburied here. They had first been buried in the "Shockoe Hill African Burying Ground." This was a separate burial ground for free people of color and enslaved people in Richmond. Military veterans from later wars are also buried at Richmond National Cemetery.
Cemetery Design and Features
The cemetery is shaped like a rectangle. It is surrounded by a wall made of granite and sandstone. This wall is about 2,588 feet long. It was built around 1890. The main entrance is in the middle of the north side. It has fancy wrought iron gates. These gates are held up by decorative cast iron posts. The graves are marked with upright marble headstones.
The Lodge Building
The lodge building was built in 1870. It was designed by Montgomery C. Meigs. He was a Quartermaster General. The building has a Second Empire style. It is made of brick and stone. It has an L-shape and a slate roof. The main part of the building has one and a half stories. It has dormer windows sticking out from the roof.
The first floor has an entry porch, living room, dining room, kitchen, and office. The top floor has two bedrooms and a bathroom. The lodge also has a basement with two rooms. A small addition was built at the back around 1900. The building has about 1,501 square feet of living space. The windows on the first floor are double-hung. The windows upstairs have been replaced. The inside has hardwood floors. The old porch was taken down in 1936. A new, bigger porch was built.
Other Structures
An octagonal (eight-sided) iron gazebo was built around 1890. It was 16 feet tall. It had a Chinese Chippendale style. It was located in the northeast part of the cemetery. It was used as a platform for speakers. The gazebo was removed in 1952. Only its concrete base is left today.
In 1934, a brick and concrete utility building was constructed. It also had a comfort station (restrooms). This building is about 33 feet by 22 feet. It has an asphalt roof. A small brick and concrete building for gasoline storage was built in 1936. It is about 8 feet by 8 feet. It also has an asphalt roof. It is located between the utility building and the northwest wall.
Burial Space Availability
The Richmond National Cemetery is currently closed for new burials. The only burials allowed are for family members of those already buried there. Sometimes, a burial spot might become available. This can happen if a reservation is canceled. It can also happen if a body is moved to another location. When a spot opens up, it is offered to another eligible veteran. This is done on a first-come, first-served basis.
