Wilmington National Cemetery

Wilmington National Cemetery is a United States National Cemetery located in the city of Wilmington, in New Hanover County, North Carolina. Administered by the United States Department of Veterans Affairs, it encompasses 5.1 acres (2.1 ha), and as of the end of 2005, had over 6,000 interred remains.

Wilmington National Cemetery
Wilmington National Cemetery is located in North Carolina
Wilmington National Cemetery
Wilmington National Cemetery is located in the United States
Wilmington National Cemetery
Location2011 Market St., Wilmington, North Carolina
Coordinates34°14′18″N 77°55′22″W
Built1867
Architectural styleColonial Revival
MPSCivil War Era National Cemeteries MPS
NRHP reference No.97000021[1]
Added to NRHPJanuary 31, 1997

History

In 1867, the land for Wilmington National Cemetery was purchased by the federal government. Most of the original interments were remains moved from Wilmington City Cemetery and nearby forts, such as Fort Fisher. By 1870 there were over 2,000 interments.[2]

In 1918, there was an outbreak of influenza on board a ship docked at the Cape Fear River which was carrying a group of Puerto Rican laborers to Fayetteville, North Carolina to aid in the construction of Camp Bragg. Twenty-eight of the laborers died from the disease and were interred at Wilmington National Cemetery.[2]

Wilmington National Cemetery was listed on the National Register of Historic Places in 1997.[1]

Notable interments

There is one British Commonwealth war grave, of a Royal Artillery Gunner of World War II.[3]

References
  1. "National Register Information System". National Register of Historic Places. National Park Service. March 13, 2009.
  2. Therese T. Sammartino (December 1996). "Wilmington National Cemetery" (pdf). National Register of Historic Places – Nomination and Inventory. North Carolina State Historic Preservation Office. Retrieved 2015-02-01.
  3. CWGC Casualty Record.
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