Raleigh National Cemetery
Why it's listed
Raleigh National Cemetery is a nearly seven-acre, largely flat burial ground at 501 Rock Quarry Road in Raleigh, laid out as a grassy rectangle with a loop drive, numbered burial sections and mature shade trees. A brick wall dating to about 1875 encloses the grounds, and wrought-iron entrance gates were added in 1936. A Colonial Revival lodge from 1938, a 1916 utility building, a 1931 octagonal rostrum and an artillery-tube monument are among the contributing features. The cemetery was established in 1865, when Union forces under General William T. Sherman held Raleigh near the end of the Civil War. Remains were brought in from places including Averysboro, Bentonville, Goldsboro, Greensboro and Henderson, and were buried by state where possible. Later burials include World War II group graves and a Vietnam-era Medal of Honor recipient. The site was listed for its Civil War association, with a period of significance from 1865 to 1936. It closed to new interments in 1990.
Significance in brief: The nomination argues the cemetery is significant under Criterion A for its association with the Civil War. It was established when Union forces under General Sherman held Raleigh in 1865, and it received Union dead brought from battlefields and burial sites across eastern North Carolina. It is also part of the Civil War Era National Cemeteries multiple property group.
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 97000022, listed January 31, 1997. Summary generated October 2026 (model claude-sonnet-5-5, prompt v1.0-2026-10-29, confidence high).
Key facts
| Address | 501 Rock Quarry Rd., Raleigh |
|---|---|
| County | Wake County |
| Listed | January 31, 1997 |
| Reference number | 97000022 |
| Resource type | Site |
| Period of significance | 1865-1936 |
| Architectural style | Colonial Revival |
| Criteria |
|
| Areas of significance | Military |
| Level of significance | National |
| Status (as stated in the nomination) | The cemetery closed to new burials in 1990; a few gravesites remained available as of June 1996, and the lodge was last used as a superintendent's residence until November 1995. |
| Acreage | 6.9 |
| Coordinates | 35.77367, -78.62039 (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 97000022.
- Nomination form (PDF, National Archives) — catalog entry
- Wikipedia article (used for cross-checking only; text not reproduced here)
- Wikidata Q7286928
- This listing as JSON
Last updated October 2026. Found an error? See the editorial policy for how to report it.