Annapolis National Cemetery

Annapolis National Cemetery is a VA national cemetery in Annapolis, Maryland. VA lists it as closed to new burials. Burial is free for eligible veterans, their spouses and dependent children.

Source: National Cemetery Administration (cem.va.gov), retrieved May 2026

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.

Directions

From the Baltimore/Washington International Airport take I-97 South approximately 15 miles. Take the MD-665 exit toward Aris T Allen Boulevard/Riva Road. Keep left at the fork, follow signs for Annapolis/US-50 E/Bay Bridge/US-301 E and merge onto US-301 N/US-50 E. Take exit 23 for MD-450 E. Turn left at West Street. Follow West Street approximately two miles to 800 West Street. The cemetery will be on your left.

Flowers and grounds rules

The placement of floral items on graves other than on the day of interment is subject to the following conditions:

1. Fresh cut flowers may be placed on graves at any time. Temporary flower containers (vases) are available in bins throughout the cemetery.

Education and visiting programs

More than half of VA's national cemeteries originated with the Civil War and many are closed to some burials. Other sites were established to serve World War veterans and they continue to expand. Historic themes related with NCA's cemeteries and soldiers' lots vary, but visitors should understand "Why is it here?" NCA began by installing interpretive signs, or waysides, at more than 100 properties to observe the Civil War Sesquicentennial (2011–2015). Please follow the links below to see the interpretive signs for Annapolis National Cemetery.

A National Cemetery System Annapolis National Cemetery

Who can be buried at Annapolis National Cemetery?

VA national cemeteries accept a veteran who didn't receive a dishonorable discharge, a service member who died on active duty or in training, the veteran's spouse or surviving spouse (even if they remarried), and minor or, in some cases, unmarried adult dependent children. National Guard and Reserve members qualify under narrower rules. You can ask VA for a pre-need eligibility decision in advance; it does not reserve a gravesite.

What does burial here include at no cost?

• A gravesite in any VA national cemetery with available space
• Opening and closing of the grave
• A government-provided burial liner
• A government-provided headstone or marker
• Perpetual care of the gravesite

Veterans also receive a burial flag, a Presidential Memorial Certificate (presented to the next of kin at the burial) and military funeral honors, which include the playing of Taps and two uniformed service members who present the flag. The committal service is held at a committal shelter, not at the grave, and lasts about 20 minutes. National cemeteries have no viewing facilities, so the funeral itself is held elsewhere.

How do you schedule a burial at Annapolis National Cemetery?

1. Gather the veteran's DD214 or other discharge papers, and the deceased's details (Social Security number, dates of birth and death, relationship to the veteran).
2. Fax the discharge papers to the National Cemetery Scheduling Office at 866-900-6417, or email them to [email protected] with the deceased's name in the subject line.
3. You or the funeral director call 800-535-1117 (Monday through Friday, 8:00 a.m. to 7:30 p.m. ET) to request Annapolis National Cemetery and a date. National cemeteries hold burials Monday through Friday.

VA lists Annapolis National Cemetery as closed. Ask the scheduling office what, if anything, can still be arranged here, and about open national cemeteries nearby.

Where is the Annapolis National Cemetery burial schedule?

VA posts a daily burial schedule for every national cemetery. Search it for Annapolis National Cemetery to see the committal services planned there. It only lists burials whose families agreed to publish them. To change or cancel a burial that's already scheduled, contact Annapolis National Cemetery directly at 410-644-9696.

Headstone, flag and burial allowance

• Government headstone or marker: tell the scheduling office which headstone, marker, niche cover or medallion you want when you schedule the burial.
• Burial flag: VA Form 27-2008.
• Burial allowance: For a non-service-connected death on or after October 1, 2026, VA pays up to $1,032 toward burial and funeral costs and $1,032 for a plot; for a service-connected death on or after September 11, 2001, the burial allowance is up to $2,000. Claim it with VA Form 21P-530EZ. All benefits

After the funeral: survivor benefits and the estate

A surviving spouse, child or parent may qualify for Dependency and Indemnity Compensation (DIC), a tax-free monthly VA benefit, for example when the death was service connected (VA Form 21P-534EZ). The veteran's estate is settled under Maryland law; our sister site ProbateUS explains how probate works in Maryland and lists each county's probate court. For the rest of the paperwork, from Social Security to bank accounts, DeathUS has a step-by-step checklist of what to do when someone dies.

Nearest cemeteries

The three veterans cemeteries closest to Annapolis National Cemetery, by straight-line distance:

• Crownsville Veterans Cemetery, Crownsville, MD: 8 mi, open for burials
• Loudon Park National Cemetery, Baltimore, MD: 23 mi, closed to new in-ground burials
• Baltimore National Cemetery, Baltimore, MD: 23 mi, status not listed