Philadelphia National Cemetery
Why it's listed
Located at Haines Street and Limekiln Road in Philadelphia, this 13.3-acre national cemetery was formed from a land purchase completed on January 26, 1885, for $15,000, with a further $7,000 paid for improvements. Remains of Union soldiers who died in Philadelphia general hospitals were moved there from ten local cemeteries, and Mexican War and Confederate remains were later added. The grounds are enclosed by a stone wall with iron picket fencing, and the curving roads and natural tree groupings reflect a park-like plan rather than a formal military layout. Its entrance gate dates to 1940 and its granite rostrum to 1939. The cemetery is valued for its Civil War memorial role and for its burials of veterans from later conflicts, including two Medal of Honor recipients, Galisha Pennypacker and Alphonse Girandy.
Significance in brief: The nomination argues the cemetery is significant under Criterion A for its association with the Civil War as a memorial to those who died, as it was formed from lots in ten Philadelphia cemeteries and consolidated in 1885. It also holds remains of veterans from every later war and branch of service. The cemetery contains Confederate and Union burial sections and two Medal of Honor recipients.
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 97000775, listed July 24, 1997. Summary generated October 2026 (model claude-haiku-5-5, prompt v1.1-2026-10-29, confidence medium).
Key facts
| Address | Jct. of Haines St. and Limekiln Rd., Philadelphia |
|---|---|
| County | Philadelphia |
| Listed | July 24, 1997 |
| Reference number | 97000775 |
| Resource type | Site |
| Period of significance | 1885-1940 |
| Architectural style | Beaux Arts |
| Criteria |
|
| Status (as stated in the nomination) | Interments continue in occupied and reserved graves; as of February 28, 1997, 28 gravesites remained available for casketed remains and 57 sites for cremated remains. |
| Coordinates | 40.05940, -75.15759 (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 97000775.
- Nomination form (PDF, National Archives) — catalog entry
- Wikipedia article (used for cross-checking only; text not reproduced here)
- Wikidata Q7182750
- This listing as JSON
Last updated October 2026. Found an error? See the editorial policy for how to report it.