Mound City National Cemetery
Why it's listed
Mound City National Cemetery lies about one mile from Mound City, Illinois, at the junction of State Route 37 and U.S. Highway 51. Established in 1864, it grew out of the Civil War, when Mound City served as the Mississippi Squadron's only repair depot and as the site of one of the largest military hospitals in the west. High death rates from wounds and disease led to the cemetery's creation, and remains were also moved there from nearby Illinois, Missouri and Kentucky locations. The grounds hold a two-story brick lodge built in 1880 to a design by Quartermaster General Montgomery C. Meigs, with Queen Anne-like gables and bargeboards, plus a 1931 utility building, a 1939 rostrum, 1941 entrance gates, a state monument of about 1874, and plaques. About 2,759 unknown soldiers are buried there. The cemetery is also notable for continuing to receive veterans of later wars, and its significance period runs from 1864 to 1941.
Significance in brief: The nomination argues it is significant under Criterion A for its association with the Civil War, when Mound City hosted a Union naval depot and large military hospitals. Under Criterion C, the 1880 lodge reflects a design by Quartermaster General Montgomery C. Meigs, in a simpler Victorian form than his earlier standard Second Empire lodges. It also meets Criteria Consideration D as a cemetery.
Machine-generated summary. This summary was generated by a language model from the official nomination document and has not been reviewed line by line by an editor. It may contain errors. Check the source document before relying on any detail. Source: nomination document (PDF) · National Archives catalog entry. NRHP reference 97001174, listed October 8, 1997. Summary generated October 2026 (model claude-sonnet-5-5, prompt v1.0-2026-10-29, confidence high).
Key facts
| Address | Jct. of IL 37 and US 51, Mound City |
|---|---|
| County | Pulaski County |
| Listed | October 8, 1997 |
| Reference number | 97001174 |
| Resource type | Site |
| Period of significance | 1864-1941 |
| Architect / builder | Meigs, Montgomery C. |
| Architectural style | Late Victorian: Queen Anne |
| Criteria |
|
| Areas of significance | Military, Architecture |
| Level of significance | National |
| Status (as stated in the nomination) | Still an active cemetery; as of May 31, 1997, 461 gravesites for casketed remains and 33 for cremated remains remained available. |
| Acreage | 10.5 |
| Coordinates | 37.08980, -89.17801 (NPS GIS) |
What listing means for this property
Sites (archaeological sites, battlefields, landscapes) are often listed with a restricted address to protect them from looting or disturbance. Listing is honorary for private owners; federal undertakings on or near the site go through Section 106 review, and state laws may protect burials and artefacts regardless of listing.
General information, not legal or tax advice. Rules change; confirm with your State Historic Preservation Office or a qualified adviser.
Sources and further reading
- National Park Service, National Register of Historic Places database (snapshot May 2026), reference 97001174.
- Nomination form (PDF, National Archives) — catalog entry
- Wikipedia article (used for cross-checking only; text not reproduced here)
- Wikidata Q6919111
- This listing as JSON
Last updated October 2026. Found an error? See the editorial policy for how to report it.