Rock Island National Cemetery
Why it's listed
Rock Island National Cemetery occupies the southeast end of Rock Island Arsenal, on an island in the Mississippi River. Established in 1863, it grew through land transfers in 1936, 1950 and 1990 and still receives burials. Historic features include an arch made from melted-down Civil War weaponry, nine plaques made in 1880 bearing verses of "Bivouac of the Dead" and federal cemetery orders, and two iron-enclosed gravesites. These belong to Brigadier General Thomas J. Rodman, who planned the arsenal and invented a cannon-casting process, and Colonel David Matson King, a later commander. Three Rodman-process cannon surround Rodman's grave. The grounds also hold group burials, graves of the 108th Colored Infantry, Confederate prisoners' guards and Civil War dead moved from Davenport, and two Medal of Honor recipients. The cemetery was listed for its link to the Civil War and its role as a memorial to American military history, with a period of significance ending in 1932, the year Colonel King was buried.
Significance in brief: The nomination argues it is significant under Criterion A for its association with the Civil War, and as part of the Civil War Era National Cemeteries group. It also meets Criteria Consideration D as a cemetery. It holds veterans of every war and branch of service, including the graves of Arsenal commanders General Thomas J. Rodman and Colonel David M. King.
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 97000560, listed June 13, 1997. Summary generated October 2026 (model claude-sonnet-5-5, prompt v1.0-2026-10-29, confidence medium).
Key facts
| Address | 0.25 mi N of southern tip of Rock Island, Moline |
|---|---|
| County | Rock Island County |
| Listed | June 13, 1997 |
| Reference number | 97000560 |
| Resource type | Site |
| Period of significance | 1868-1932 |
| Architectural style | No style |
| Criteria |
|
| Areas of significance | Military |
| Level of significance | National |
| Status (as stated in the nomination) | Still an active cemetery; interments of casketed remains continue and it is expected to remain open until 2008. |
| Acreage | 44.2 |
| Within district | Rock Island Arsenal |
| Coordinates | 41.51367, -90.52362 (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 97000560.
- Nomination form (PDF, National Archives) — catalog entry
- Wikipedia article (used for cross-checking only; text not reproduced here)
- Wikidata Q7354515
- This listing as JSON
Last updated October 2026. Found an error? See the editorial policy for how to report it.