Originally called Mississippi River National Cemetery, Memphis National Cemetery was established during the American Civil War after the Union Army took control of Memphis.

The cemetery was founded in order to inter war veterans who had died in various hospitals along the Mississippi delta. In 1865, Union soldiers liberated from Confederate POW camps died when their steamboat Sultana exploded, and they were also buried in Memphis. In 1867, about 250 casualties of the Battle of Fort Pillow from both sides were moved from various battlefield cemeteries to this newly established veteran cemetery. The cemetery spreads over 44.2 acres and had 42,184 interments in 2007.

The beautifully landscaped and maintained cemetery has several notable monuments such as the Illinois Monument, a granite and bronze sarcophagus created by sculptor Leon Hermant.

3568 Townes Ave., Memphis, TN, Phone: 901-386-8311

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