Poplar Grove National Cemetery

Poplar Grove National Cemetery is a burial ground in Petersburg featuring white marble headstones arranged in symmetrical sections along paved pathways. The grounds contain over 6,700 graves laid out across landscaped areas with clear navigation routes for visitors.

The cemetery was established in 1866 after recovery teams collected remains of Union soldiers from battlefields across nine Virginia counties following the Civil War. This effort represented a significant undertaking to locate and honor those who had fallen.

The grounds serve as a place of remembrance where visitors can reflect on the sacrifice of those who died in conflict. The orderly arrangement of headstones and the quiet setting create a solemn space that encourages contemplation.

The grounds are open to visitors year-round with well-maintained pathways that make navigating the site straightforward. Informational markers throughout the grounds help visitors understand the history and context of those interred here.

A dedicated recovery team of 100 men spent three years collecting remains from nearly 100 different locations using ten army wagons and forty mules. This organized retrieval mission was one of the largest efforts of its kind following the war.

Location: Virginia

GPS coordinates: 37.16030,-77.42860

Latest update: December 12, 2025 12:06