Burial at Albany Rural Cemetery Soldiers' Lot: A family guide

History of Albany Rural Cemetery Soldiers' Lot

Albany Rural Cemetery is located in the city of Albany, New York, on an elevated plateau overlooking the Hudson River. The cemetery was established as a result of a public reaction to overcrowded and deteriorating church burial grounds in the state's capital. The citizens sought a "rural cemetery" outside the city proper, which was incorporated on April 2, 1841. Albany Rural, true to its name, opened Oct. 7, 1844, and it remains one of the oldest examples of this style of picturesque cemeteries in the country. The cemetery, now 467 acres, is the last resting place for the 21st U.S. president, Chester Arthur, along with legions of national and state politicians.

The Albany Rural Soldiers' Lot is located in Lot 7, Section 75. Although no deed was located, the 0.16-acre lot was donated to the federal government by the Albany Cemetery Association on June 17, 1862, for the "burial of soldiers who have fallen or may fall in the Civil War." The majority of burials consist of soldiers who died of injury or illness in hospitals around Albany during the Civil War. The last of the 149 interments was made in 1897.

Albany Rural Cemetery, including the National Cemetery Administration's soldiers' lot, was listed on the National Register of Historic Places in October 1979.

Monuments and Memorials About 1873, the Grand Army of the Republic (GAR) erected a monument to remember local men who lost their lives during the Civil War. The 15-foot-tall GAR Monument is composed of a bronze figure of a Civil War soldier atop a granite shaft, adorned on each side with bronze inscription plaques listing the names of those who died during the Civil War. On the front of the shaft there is an oval bas-relief portrait of Abraham Lincoln, signed "Pickett 1873."

Notable veterans buried at Albany Rural Cemetery Soldiers' Lot

The National Cemetery Administration documents the following veterans of note buried at Albany Rural Cemetery Soldiers' Lot, listed by section and site as recorded in the cemetery's official register.

• Under Development.

Eligibility for burial at Albany Rural Cemetery Soldiers' Lot

Planning ahead for a Veteran's or loved-one's final resting place can eliminate unnecessary delays and reduce stress on a family at a difficult time.

The Department of Veterans Affairs covers the grave plot, opening and closing of the grave, perpetual care, a government-furnished headstone or marker, and a U.S. burial flag at no cost to eligible families.

Visiting hours

Visitation Hours: Open daily from sunrise to sunset. Office Hours: Monday thru Friday 8:00 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. Closed federal holidays.

How to schedule a burial at Albany Rural Cemetery Soldiers' Lot

1. The funeral home or family contacts the National Cemetery Scheduling Office at 1-800-535-1117 (24/7 for active funeral arrangements).
2. Provide the veteran's full name, date of birth, social security number, dates of service, branch, and date of death.
3. Fax or email the DD-214 to the cemetery's interment office for verification.
4. Once eligibility is confirmed (typically 30–60 minutes for complete documentation), the cemetery assigns a date, time, and committal shelter.
5. The funeral home transports the deceased to Albany Rural Cemetery Soldiers' Lot at the assigned time. The cemetery handles opening, closing, and perpetual care from that point.

Where Albany Rural Cemetery Soldiers' Lot sits in the New York cemetery system

Albany Rural Cemetery Soldiers' Lot is one of the veteran cemeteries operating in New York. The cemetery is currently closed to new in-ground burials but may accept cremated remains in some cases. Families should verify status before planning.

For families considering alternatives, the nearest veteran cemeteries appear in our cemetery sidebar. If Albany Rural Cemetery Soldiers' Lot is fully reserved, those alternatives are typically the next options.