Burial at Annapolis National Cemetery: A family guide

History of Annapolis National Cemetery

Annapolis National Cemetery is located in Anne Arundel County, within the city limits of Annapolis, MD. Annapolis was one of the 14 national cemeteries established by President Abraham Lincoln in 1862. The original land was leased in August 1862 from a local resident, Nicholas Brewer, for a period of 99 years. Five years later, Brewer's heirs sold the land outright to the federal government.

During the Civil War, Annapolis was the site of a Union training and recruiting center. Despite the government's best efforts to keep the camps sanitary, a large number of men died due to illnesses such as small pox and typhoid, as well as accidents and violence. As a result, most original interments at the cemetery were men who died at the training camps or nearby hospitals.

Annapolis also had a role in the exchange of prisoners between Union and Confederate sides. As early as the War of 1812, there was a well-established practice of paroling prisoners of war so neither side incurred the expense of holding and maintaining the others' troops for an extended period. While City Point, VA, was the official exchange location, Confederate prisoners were held at Annapolis while arrangements were negotiated. Conversely, Union soldiers held by the Confederacy were often moved to the hospital at Camp Parole, near Annapolis, after their release. At least 24 men buried at Annapolis National Cemetery were former Confederate POWs who died in captivity.

Annapolis National Cemetery was placed on the National Register of Historic Places in 1996.

Notable veterans buried at Annapolis National Cemetery

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

• Under Development.

Eligibility for burial at Annapolis National Cemetery

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: This cemetery is supervised by the Baltimore National Cemetery.

How to schedule a burial at Annapolis National Cemetery

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 Annapolis National Cemetery at the assigned time. The cemetery handles opening, closing, and perpetual care from that point.

Where Annapolis National Cemetery sits in the Maryland cemetery system

Annapolis National Cemetery is one of the veteran cemeteries operating in Maryland. 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 Annapolis National Cemetery is fully reserved, those alternatives are typically the next options.