Burial at Union Confederate Monument Site: A family guide

History of Union Confederate Monument Site

Established in 1857 between the towns of Westport and Kansas, Missouri, the 49-acre Union Cemetery was intended for both communities. Thus, the cemetery was not named after the Union Army, but for the union of the two communities. In 1889, the town of Kansas changed its name to Kansas City, and annexed Westport in 1897. Today, the cemetery is located within downtown Kansas City. Many notable local figures are interred in Union Cemetery, including George Caleb Bingham, a 19th-century painter, and Alexander Majors, who helped establish the Pony Express.

The 8' tall granite obelisk commemorates 15 Confederate prisoners of war who died in Kansas City. Originally buried in the city cemetery, their remains were subsequently interred in Union Cemetery, although the location of the individual graves are not known. Two bronze tablets fastened to the monument list the names of the prisoners, who were taken during the Battle of Westport, the turning point in the Missouri Campaign of Confederate Major General Sterling Price.

The lot is located in the northeast section of the cemetery and it is identified as stop #15 in the cemetery's walking tour.

Notable veterans buried at Union Confederate Monument Site

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

• Under Development.

Eligibility for burial at Union Confederate Monument Site

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 Saturday 7:00 a.m. to 3:00 p.m. Closed federal holidays except Memorial Day.

How to schedule a burial at Union Confederate Monument Site

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 Union Confederate Monument Site at the assigned time. The cemetery handles opening, closing, and perpetual care from that point.

Where Union Confederate Monument Site sits in the Missouri cemetery system

Union Confederate Monument Site is one of the veteran cemeteries operating in Missouri. 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 Union Confederate Monument Site is fully reserved, those alternatives are typically the next options.