Greenlawn Cemetery
Also known as: Greenlawn Memorial Park; VDHR File # 121-65
Why it's listed
Greenlawn Cemetery is a 50-acre burial ground in Newport News, laid out in 1888 where Mill Dam Creek and Salters Creek come together. It has operated continuously since then and holds roughly 20,000 burials in family and individual plots, marked by granite monuments, obelisks and mausoleums. Winding grass and stone drives, mature trees and informal plantings give it the look of a 19th-century rural cemetery, set apart from the city by natural watercourses. At its center stands a 25-foot obelisk marking the mass grave of 163 Confederate prisoners who died at the Newport News prisoner-of-war camp in 1865. Their remains were moved to the cemetery in 1900 when terminal expansion destroyed the camp site, and a granite ledger lists their names. The cemetery was recognized for this wartime connection and for its picturesque landscape design, which made it a gathering place for families. A 1936 caretaker's house is the only noncontributing building.
Significance in brief: The nomination argues it is significant for its link to the Newport News Confederate POW camp, whose 163 dead were reinterred there in 1900 and memorialized in 1908. It is also significant as a 19th-century rural cemetery with an informal, picturesque landscape design meant to serve the living as well as the dead.
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 99000139, listed February 5, 1999. Summary generated October 2026 (model claude-sonnet-5-5, prompt v1.0-2026-10-29, confidence high).
Key facts
| Address | 2700 Parish Ave., Newport News (Independent City) |
|---|---|
| County | Newport News |
| Listed | February 5, 1999 |
| Reference number | 99000139 |
| Resource type | Site |
| Period of significance | 1888-1908 |
| Architect / builder | Unknown / Stone cutters monument builders: Ennis Lawson & Hewton; O.D. Couper |
| Criteria |
|
| Areas of significance | Social History, Landscape Architecture |
| Level of significance | Local |
| Status (as stated in the nomination) | In continuous operation as a cemetery since 1888, with about 150 new burials per year; described as in good condition with very little alteration since its creation. |
| Acreage | 50 |
| Coordinates | 36.99714, -76.40419 (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 99000139.
- Nomination form (PDF, National Archives) — catalog entry
- Wikipedia article (used for cross-checking only; text not reproduced here)
- Wikidata Q5604264
- This listing as JSON
Last updated October 2026. Found an error? See the editorial policy for how to report it.