Fort Leavenworth National Cemetery

Fort Leavenworth National Cemetery is a VA national cemetery in Fort Leavenworth, Kansas. Burial is free for eligible veterans, their spouses and dependent children.

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

History of Fort Leavenworth National Cemetery

Fort Leavenworth National Cemetery, located just north of Leavenworth, KS, is located near the center of the historic Fort Leavenworth Military Reservation. The garrison of Fort Leavenworth is one of the oldest continuously-active military post located west of the Mississippi River and is noted for its significant role in the development of the American West.

After Mexico won its independence from Spain in 1821, trade routes were opened in the western territories of North America. Conflicts arose when the trade routes crossed lands that belonged to various Native American tribes. Traders soon appealed to the U.S. government for protection and aid in keeping the routes open. In response, the government established a number of military posts west of the Mississippi River, including Fort Leavenworth.

In 1827, the War Department ordered Colonel Henry Leavenworth to follow the Missouri River until he reached the mouth of the Little Platte River and establish a permanent military cantonment on the east bank there. After exploring the area, Col. Leavenworth determined that the west (ultimately Kansas) side of the river was the best site and construction of the cantonment began shortly afterwards. Due to its strategic location on both the Oregon and Santa Fe trails, Fort Leavenworth was a key crossroads for westbound settlers. The flat land near the river contained corrals and supply yards and was well suited for traders and wagon trains on their long westbound journeys.

As early as 1834, cavalry regiments from Fort Leavenworth were ordered to help quell Native American uprisings. When the Mexican War broke out, Fort Leavenworth became an outfitting post for troops headed to the Southwest. Later, it outfitted prospectors bound for California to "strike it rich" with gold. Fort Leavenworth served as Army headquarters for the West and was the site of the formal surrender of New Mexico to the United States in 1846.

Roots of the American Civil War began with the Missouri Compromise in 1820 and, afterwards, in the new Kansas territory. In addition to wars and uprising with Native Americans in the waning Indian Territory, Fort Leavenworth served to protect citizens determined to settle in the Kansas territory. During the late 1840s and throughout the 1850s, Kansas was plagued by violent skirmishes between pro-slavery and "free state" proponents. Kansas became an official U.S. territory in May 1854 with the Kansas-Nebraska Act and as the dream of statehood was kindled, the fiery debate over whether Kansas would enter the Union as a "free" or "slave" state ignited more violence and bloodshed. Many of the early burials at Fort Leavenworth reflect the tragic loss of life from this period in our nation's history.

Kansas became the 34th state when it entered the Union on January 29, 1861. Four months later, the official outbreak of the Civil War took place at Fort Sumter, South Carolina. Fort Leavenworth's strategic location on the border of two states with opposing sympathies played a vital role in the war's Western theatre. In 1861, Camp Lincoln was founded at the post and thousands of volunteers were equipped and trained for the Union Army. Fort Leavenworth has served as training grounds for thousands of soldiers for many wars since that time. The cemetery contains burials that resulted from the infamous Quantrill's raid and massacre that took place in nearby Lawrence, KS on August 21, 1863.

Fort Leavenworth National Cemetery reflects the fort's changing role in our nation's history. The ravages of malaria and other diseases among the first soldiers assigned to Cantonment Leavenworth necessitated the creation of a burying ground as early as 1827. Due to military tradition at the time, two cemeteries were originally established on the fort grounds: one for enlisted soldiers was located near the present site of the Commanding General's quarters; the other was reserved exclusively for officers and was located near what is now the Combined Arms Research Library. In 1858, the remains from both post cemeteries were re-interred into a single site on the military reservation. When Congress approved the creation of national cemeteries in 1862, the Fort Leavenworth cemetery became one of 14 national cemeteries to be designated or established as such that year. Of the original 14 national cemeteries, Fort Leavenworth National Cemetery was the largest and contained 36.10 acres.

In the years following the Civil War, the bodies of Union soldiers from St. Joseph, Kansas City and Independence, MO, were re-interred at Fort Leavenworth National Cemetery. In addition, the cemetery was used as the burial ground for soldiers who served at frontier posts in Kansas, New Mexico, Arizona, Colorado and southern Wyoming. In 1870, the Inspector of National Cemeteries reported more than 1,000 Union soldiers interred at Fort Leavenworth along with roughly 170 citizens and 7 Confederate prisoners of war.

The oldest known burial at Fort Leavenworth National Cemetery is that of Clarinda Dale who died September 21, 1844. She was originally interred in the old Fort Leavenworth Arsenal Cemetery. The oldest known military grave is that of Captain James Allen, 1st U.S. Dragoons, who died in August 1846. Like Miss Dale, Capt. Allen was originally buried in Fort Leavenworth Arsenal Cemetery and later moved to the national cemetery. In 1886, soldiers originally buried at Fort Craig, New Mexico, were re-interred at Fort Leavenworth National Cemetery to facilitate completion of the Atchison, Topeka and Santa Fe Railroad. Following the close of the Indian Wars and resettlement of Native Americans, the Army closed or consolidated many of its small military outposts in the West. As a result, between 1885 and 1907, the federal government vacated numerous military post cemeteries and re-interred nearly 2,000 remains at Fort Leavenworth National Cemetery.

The remains of Brigadier General Leavenworth, the fort's namesake, were disinterred from Woodland Cemetery in Delhi, NY, and reinterred in the national cemetery on Memorial Day in 1902. The general died in 1834 at Cross Timbers, in Indian Territory, without knowing that he had been promoted from colonel to brigadier general. A large granite marker topped with an eagle in repose was erected in 1910 to mark his grave.

Fort Leavenworth National Cemetery was listed on the National Register of Historic Places on July 15, 1999.

Monuments and Memorials Two large grave-markers that look like monuments are located in the cemetery: the 12-foot granite marker for General Henry Leavenworth and an 8-foot granite marker for Colonel Edward Hatch.

Notable interments

The National Cemetery Administration lists these people of note buried at Fort Leavenworth National Cemetery, with section and site where recorded.

Directions

The cemetery is located on Fort Leavenworth Army Installation. From Kansas City International Airport, take Interstate 29 north 7.5 miles to Platte City (exit 20). Turn left and proceed through Platte City to Highway 92 and turn west for 8.5 miles. After crossing the bridge into Leavenworth continue to the second stop light. Turn right on Grant Avenue (you are now on the Army Installation) and go to the second stop light and turn left on Cody. Bear to the right around the golf course onto Biddle Boulevard. The cemetery is on your left.

Flowers and grounds rules

Cemetery policies are conspicuously posted and readily visible to the public.

Floral arrangements accompanying the casket or urn at the time of burial will be placed on the completed grave.

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 Fort Leavenworth National Cemetery.

A National Cemetery System Fort Leavenworth National Cemetery

Who can be buried at Fort Leavenworth 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 Fort Leavenworth 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 Fort Leavenworth National Cemetery and a date. National cemeteries hold burials Monday through Friday.

Where is the Fort Leavenworth National Cemetery burial schedule?

VA posts a daily burial schedule for every national cemetery. Search it for Fort Leavenworth 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 Fort Leavenworth National Cemetery directly at 913-684-4348.

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 Kansas law; our sister site ProbateUS explains how probate works in Kansas 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 Fort Leavenworth National Cemetery, by straight-line distance:

• Leavenworth National Cemetery, Leavenworth, KS: 6 mi, open for burials
• Union Confederate Monument Site, Kansas City, MO: 27 mi, closed to new in-ground burials
• Missouri State Veterans Cemetery - Higginsville, Higginsville, MO: 66 mi, open for burials