Burial at Forest Hill Cemetery Soldiers' Lot: A family guide

History of Forest Hill Cemetery Soldiers' Lot

Forest Hill Cemetery was established in 1858 by the city of Madison, Wisconsin. Burials occurred at this location for more than a thousand years, as American Indians built effigy mounds on the site between 900–1200 A.D. It is an example of the rural cemetery movement, sparked in the United States with the creation of Mount Auburn Cemetery in Cambridge, Massachusetts. The 140-acre cemetery contains the interments of many local notables, including administrators and faculty members at the University of Wisconsin.

Burials in the soldiers' lot began in 1862. The federal government did not own the soldiers' lot until 1886, when the city of Madison donated the 0.36-acre plot, located in Section 34 of the parent cemetery. Deceased Civil War Union veterans from the local general hospital constitute the majority of the interments. However, there are also Spanish-American War and World War I veterans buried at the site. The last burial was in 1931.

A Confederate plot known as "Confederate Rest" is located approximately 100 yards from this soldiers' lot, but it is not affiliated with the National Cemetery Administration.

Monuments and Memorials In 1866, Harvey Hospital in Madison was converted into a home for the children of Union soldiers from Wisconsin whose parents were either killed or unable to care for them. For nine years, the Soldiers' Orphans Home cared for the youngsters. Eight of them died between 1866 and 1870 and were buried in Forest Hill Cemetery. Individual headstones are inscribed with the children's initials and a marble obelisk is inscribed with their full name, date of death, and age. The Soldiers' Orphans Monument marble obelisk was dedicated on Decoration Day 1873 and it is one of NCA's oldest memorial objects.

Notable veterans buried at Forest Hill Cemetery Soldiers' Lot

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

• Under Development.

Eligibility for burial at Forest Hill 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 through Friday 8:00 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. Closed federal holidays except Memorial Day.

How to schedule a burial at Forest Hill 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 Forest Hill Cemetery Soldiers' Lot at the assigned time. The cemetery handles opening, closing, and perpetual care from that point.

Where Forest Hill Cemetery Soldiers' Lot sits in the Wisconsin cemetery system

Forest Hill Cemetery Soldiers' Lot is one of the veteran cemeteries operating in Wisconsin. 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 Forest Hill Cemetery Soldiers' Lot is fully reserved, those alternatives are typically the next options.