Memphis National Cemetery

Memphis National Cemetery is a military burial ground covering 44.2 acres with carefully maintained lawns and rows of white headstones marking the graves of veterans. The grounds feature monuments and pathways that guide visitors through different sections of the cemetery.

Established in 1867, the cemetery was created to honor Union soldiers reinterred from battlefields along the Mississippi River. The site's origins reflect the nation's effort to provide respectful burial for those who fell during the war.

The monuments on the grounds serve as gathering places where people come to remember those who served and to honor family members buried here. Visitors often spend time reading the inscriptions and reflecting on the personal stories behind each name.

The cemetery is open daily and welcomes visitors to walk freely through the grounds to locate graves and explore the monuments. Plan to spend an hour or two here, as the size of the site requires time to navigate comfortably.

The cemetery holds approximately 8,866 unidentified soldiers, one of the largest collections of unknown burials among national cemeteries. This somber fact underscores the human cost of war and the incomplete historical record.