Garrison Cemetery
Also known as: War of 1812 Cemetery
Why it's listed
Garrison Cemetery is a five-sided, 0.319-acre burial ground on Aero Drive in Cheektowaga, New York, enclosed by a wood rail fence and bordered by airport and service property. A cannon on a concrete platform, flagpoles, commemorative flower beds and small white crosses mark the site. It is the burial place of soldiers who died at the military hospital established at Williamsville in August 1814, when American forces on the Niagara Frontier gathered their sick and wounded there after the battles of Chippewa, Lundy's Lane and Fort Erie. A 2001 survey using electromagnetic and ground penetrating radar detected two large disturbed areas interpreted as communal graves, probably holding many hundreds of people. The cemetery was listed for its connection to the War of 1812 Niagara Campaign and for its potential to yield historical information. The Town of Cheektowaga acquired it in 1985 from the Buffalo and Erie County Historical Society and maintains it, holding annual tribute ceremonies.
Significance in brief: The nomination argues significance under Criterion A for its link to the 1814-1815 Niagara Frontier Campaign of the War of 1812 and to the General Military Hospital established at Williamsville in August 1814. It is described as one of the very few remaining historic sites tied to the Niagara Campaign. Under Criterion D, a 2001 geophysical survey identified two large communal grave areas that likely hold many hundreds of individuals.
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 02001113, listed October 10, 2002. Summary generated October 2026 (model claude-sonnet-5-5, prompt v1.0-2026-10-29, confidence medium).
Key facts
| Address | Aero Dr., Cheektowaga |
|---|---|
| County | Erie County |
| Listed | October 10, 2002 |
| Reference number | 02001113 |
| Resource type | Site |
| Period of significance | ca. 1814-ca. 1815 |
| Criteria |
|
| Areas of significance | Military |
| Level of significance | Local |
| Status (as stated in the nomination) | Listed as an inactive cemetery; the Town of Cheektowaga acquired it in 1985 and its Town Board maintains it and holds annual ceremonies. |
| Acreage | 0.3 |
| Coordinates | 42.94694, -78.73039 (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 02001113.
- Nomination form (PDF, National Archives) — catalog entry
- Wikipedia article (used for cross-checking only; text not reproduced here)
- Wikidata Q5524026
- This listing as JSON
Last updated October 2026. Found an error? See the editorial policy for how to report it.