Burial at Lexington National Cemetery: A family guide

History of Lexington National Cemetery

Lexington National Cemetery originated in 1861 as a small soldier's lot within Lexington City Cemetery, a place that in its heyday was considered "one of the most beautiful and carefully kept rural cemeteries in the United States." The first burial in the soldier's lot was made during the Civil War on November 28, 1861. In 1863, the soldiers' lot was designated a national cemetery. In 1867, the government purchased an additional 0.38 acres that doubled the cemetery's size to its current three-quarters of an acre.

The cemetery tract is triangular, with graves arranged in concentric circles. Its boundaries are marked by carved marble posts emblazoned with "US." A bronze plaque identifies this property as Lexington National Cemetery. Of the original burials, 671 were non-commissioned officers and privates who died in hospitals or camps operating around Lexington during the war. After the war, Quartermaster Corps personnel were charged with locating all Union soldier's remains and re-interring them in national cemeteries. Additional soldiers who had fallen in battles at Falmouth, Cynthiana, Mount Sterling, Paris and along the Kentucky Central Railroad line were buried at Lexington National Cemetery.

The soldier's portion closed to burials in 1939, but it and the surrounding city cemetery remain a neatly maintained and picturesque burial ground. It was listed on National Register of Historic Places in 1998.

Monuments and Memorials By 1869, a 32-pound seacoast artillery gun was mounted vertically as a memorial, like those found in many other national cemeteries, but it was removed early in the 20th century. There are no monuments or memorials in the cemetery today.

Notable veterans buried at Lexington National Cemetery

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

• Under Development.

Eligibility for burial at Lexington 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 dawn to dusk. Office Hours: Monday thru Friday 8:00 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. Closed federal holidays.

How to schedule a burial at Lexington 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 Lexington National Cemetery at the assigned time. The cemetery handles opening, closing, and perpetual care from that point.

Where Lexington National Cemetery sits in the Kentucky cemetery system

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