Cedar Hill Cemetery
Also known as: Green Hill Cemetery; DHR Number 133-5018
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Why it's listed
Cedar Hill Cemetery is a 25-acre public burial ground in Suffolk, Virginia, set on an elevated hill planted mainly with cedar trees. It began in 1802, when the town bought land for a chapel and burying place that served the non-denominational Union Church. The church building was moved away in 1872, and the cemetery grew through the 19th century to its present size in 1910. Its grid plan has three distinct sections, and the west slope of the hill is stepped for burials. Markers range from plain early slabs to Victorian obelisks, treestones, statuary and chest tombs, along with mausoleums built in the 1930s. A bronze Confederate soldier monument dedicated in 1889 and a World War I Doughboy statue dedicated in 1931 stand within the grounds. Burials have included people of different races and religions, and many of Suffolk's prominent residents. The cemetery was listed for its planning and the artistic value of its markers, with a period of significance of 1802 to 1955.
Significance in brief: The nomination argues the cemetery is a representative example of public cemetery planning and funerary artwork in southeast Virginia and Suffolk. It was the city's first public cemetery, has a grid plan that grew in phases, and contains markers and monuments of high artistic character.
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 05001584, listed February 1, 2006. Summary generated October 2026 (model claude-sonnet-5-5, prompt v1.0-2026-10-29, confidence high).
Key facts
| Address | S of E. Constance Rd., Suffolk (Independent City) |
|---|---|
| County | Suffolk |
| Listed | February 1, 2006 |
| Reference number | 05001584 |
| Resource type | District |
| Period of significance | 1802-1955 |
| Architect / builder | John P. Hall Co.; Joseph P. Pollia |
| Architectural style | Early Republic, Mid-19th Century, Late Victorian, Late 19th and 20th Century Revivals, Late 19th and Early 20th Century American Movements, Modern Movement |
| Criteria |
|
| Areas of significance | Landscape Architecture, Architecture |
| Level of significance | Local |
| Status (as stated in the nomination) | Remains in continued use as a burying ground for Suffolk's citizens. |
| Acreage | 25 |
| Coordinates | 36.73824, -76.57954 (NPS GIS) |
What listing means for this property
This is a historic district. Buildings within its boundary are either contributing (they add to the district's significance) or non-contributing. Owners of contributing income-producing buildings can claim the 20% federal rehabilitation tax credit; homeowners should look at state credits. National Register districts impose no design review by themselves; a local historic district ordinance, if one exists, does (the difference explained).
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 05001584.
- Nomination form (PDF, National Archives) — catalog entry
- Wikipedia article (used for cross-checking only; text not reproduced here)
- Wikidata Q16858586
- This listing as JSON
Last updated October 2026. Found an error? See the editorial policy for how to report it.