Source: National Cemetery Administration · cem.va.gov · scraped May 2026
History of Little Rock National Cemetery
Little Rock National Cemetery is located in Little Rock, AR, approximately two miles southeast of the state capital. The first European visitor to this region was Spanish explorer Hernando de Soto who, in 1541, first crossed the Mississippi into what would become Arkansas. Unable to locate the fabled city of gold, de Soto left the region and it was almost 200 years before French explorer Bernard de la Harpe brought new attention to area. In 1722, during his survey of the Arkansas River, Le Harpe named the river bluff La Petite Roch, or "the Little Rock." The area turned out to be a convenient point for crossing the Arkansas River and was near a Quapaw Indian settlement, so La Harpe established his trading post here. When Arkansas became a territory in 1819, the capital was located at Arkansas Post, a site downriver. Two years later it moved to the busy town of Little Rock. Little Rock was incorporated as a city in 1831 and became the capital in 1836 when Arkansas was admitted to the Union.
Although Arkansas had entered the Union as a slave state, its population was divided on the question of secession. In 1861, after officials refused to send troops to fight in the Union Army, a convention met and voted to secede from the Union, reversing an earlier decision. Following the Battle of Pea Ridge in 1862, Union forces captured Little Rock and held the city for the remainder of the war.
Early in the Civil War, the land that is currently the national cemetery was located outside city limits and was used for Union encampments. With Union troops still occupying the city in 1866, a portion of the new city cemetery was purchased by the government and set aside for military interments.
The government purchased the military plot in Little Rock City Cemetery as two parcels: 9.1 acres in September 1866 and 3.2 acres in April 1868. On April 9, 1868, it was designated a national cemetery with the stated purpose to concentrate remains of Union dead who had been buried throughout Arkansas. By this time, there were 5,425 interments: 3,092 known dead and 2,333 unknowns. In 1868, 1,482 remains removed from area battlefield graves were reinterred here.
In 1884, an 11-acre Confederate cemetery was established adjacent to the national cemetery. The remains of 640 Confederate soldiers were removed from Mt. Holly Cemetery in Little Rock and reburied here. In 1913, Congress authorized the Secretary of War to accept a deed from the City of Little Rock for the Confederate cemetery, with the restriction that only Confederate veterans could be interred on the newly acquired land. In 1938, this restriction was removed and the Confederate cemetery became the Confederate Section of Little Rock National Cemetery.
In 1990, the National Expansion Corp. purchased additional land from the adjoining Oakland Fraternal Cemetery and formally donated it to the United States for expansion of the national cemetery. In November 1999, the City of Little Rock donated one additional acre. Little Rock National Cemetery, encompassing a little over 31 acres, was listed on the National Register of Historic Places in 1996.
Monuments and Memorials The granite and bronze Minnesota Monument was dedicated to 162 Minnesota soldiers who fell in Arkansas during the Civil War. Erected in 1916, it is one of seven Minnesota monuments found in the national cemeteries. The memorialized soldiers were enlisted in the 3rd, 5th, 7th, 9th and 10th Minnesota U.S. Volunteers. The sculptor was John K. Daniels of St. Paul, MN. Other Minnesota monuments are located at Marion, IN (1913); Memphis (1916), Nashville (1920) and Shiloh (1908) TN; Jefferson Barracks, MO (1922); and Vicksburg, MS (1906–1907). Daniels also did the monuments at Nashville and Shiloh national cemeteries.
The marble Confederate Monument was erected in 1884 by trustees of the Mount Holly Cemetery in honor of the 640 Confederate soldiers originally buried in this cemetery and later re-interred in Little Rock National Cemetery. The soldiers died in Arkansas, Missouri, Texas, and Louisiana between1861–1863.
As a significant sculpture of the post-Civil War period (1886–1934) in Arkansas, both monuments were individually listed on the National Register of Historic Places in 1996.
Notable interments
Veterans, public figures, and citizens of note buried at Little Rock National Cemetery, listed by section and site as recorded by the National Cemetery Administration.
Medal of Honor The Medal of Honor is the highest award for valor in action against an enemy force that can be bestowed upon an individual serving in the Armed Services of the United States.
Recipients receive the Medal of Honor from the President on behalf of Congress. It was first awarded during the Civil War and the eligibility criteria, medal design, and recognition on a recipients' grave marker have all evolved over time. There are 434 Medal of Honor recipients interred at VA national cemeteries including 6 double recipients.
» Medal of Honor recipients interred or memorialized here:
Captain Maurice L.
Britt (World War II). He received the Medal of Honor while serving in the U.S. Army, 3rd Infantry Division, for actions north of Mignano, Italy, November 10, 1943. Britt died in 1995 and is buried in Section 20, Site 319.
Other Burials Tennessean Simon A.
Haley (1892–1973) was the youngest child of former slaves. His father was a sharecropper. Haley worked the farm and attended school at Lane College, then A&T College in Greensboro, NC. He struggled to pay for the tuition and one summer took a job as a Pullman Porter. Upon returning to campus, Haley learned that a passenger from the train paid all his fees. He finished top in his class and won a scholarship to Cornell University, but World War I interrupted his graduate studies. Sergeant Haley served in the U.S. Army in France, 1918–1919. After the war, he finished his degree and taught agriculture at universities in Alabama and Arkansas through the mid-1950s. He is buried in Little Rock National Cemetery . His son and World War II veteran, Alex, wrote the Pulitzer Prize-winning book, Roots: The Saga of an American Family.
Section 16, Site 1429
Louisiana native Frank Moore (1888–1932) began as a sharecropper but became one of the "Elaine 12," a benchmark case heard by the U.S.
Supreme Court. Moore registered for the draft in 1917 and was called to active duty with the 162nd Arkansas Depot Brigade. Private Moore was honorably discharged in December 1918. After World War I, he joined the Progressive Farmers and Household Union to advocate for equitable treatment for sharecroppers and crop compensation. In 1919, racial violence erupted at a union meeting in Elaine, AR, where about 200 black citizens were killed in the aftermath. Twelve men were condemned to death for their association with the riot; the case went to the Supreme Court, whose ruling addressed due process and strengthened the Bill of Rights. Moore and his co-defendants were freed. Moore moved to Chicago where he died. He is buried in Little Rock National Cemetery .
Section 5, Site 6528
Eligibility for burial at Little Rock 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.
Request eligibility status for:
Veteran or servicemember Spouse Dependent family member Apply online »
Burial in a VA national cemetery is open to all members of the armed forces who have met a minimum active duty service requirement and were discharged under conditions other than dishonorable.
Directions
Cemetery is located in the southeast section of Little Rock. It may be reached from Interstate 30. Exit at Roosevelt Road, and travel east approximately three blocks. From Little Rock National Airport, travel Interstate 440 west to Springer Boulevard. Turn right, proceed approximately 3/4 mile to the cemetery.
Floral and grounds policy
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. Natural cut flowers may be placed on graves at any time of the year. They will be removed when they become unsightly or when it becomes necessary to facilitate cemetery operations such as mowing.
Weapons policy
VA regulations 38 CFR 1.218 prohibit the carrying of firearms (either openly or concealed), explosives or other dangerous or deadly weapons while on VA property, except for official purposes, such as military funeral honors.
Possession of firearms on any property under the charge and control of VA is prohibited. Offenders may be subject to a fine, removal from the premises, or arrest.
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 Little Rock National Cemetery.
A National Cemetery System Little Rock National Cemetery Confederate Burials in the National Cemetery - The Old Confederate Cemetery Visit the Veterans Legacy Program and NCA History Program for additional information. Thank you for your interest.
Nearest cemeteries
The three closest veteran cemeteries to Little Rock National Cemetery (by straight-line distance):
- Arkansas State Veterans Cemetery at North Little Rock — North Little Rock, AR (8 mi · open)
- Arkansas State Veterans Cemetery at Birdeye — Birdeye, AR (100 mi · open)
- Fort Smith National Cemetery — Fort Smith, AR (131 mi · open)
Nearby veteran-friendly funeral homes
The following funeral homes within a 50-mile radius of Little Rock National Cemetery have demonstrated a commitment to serving veterans through specialized services, VA benefits coordination, or dedicated honors details.
Smith-North Little Rock Funeral Home, Inc. is a premier funeral home located at 1921 Main St. in North Little Rock, AR. The property features well-appointed spaces including care center and cremation center. Professional offerings include custom services, immediate need, and traditional services, handled with the utmost care by their licensed directors. General services start at $2,725. For families preferring a traditional approach, basic burial services begin at $5,575, while direct cremation is available from $2,725. The staff is experienced in coordinating with various faith traditions, specifically Christian and Catholic.
Smith-Sherwood Funeral Home is a premier funeral home located at 7700 Hwy. 107 in Sherwood, AR. The property features well-appointed spaces including spacious chapel, ample parking, and privately owned crematory. Professional offerings include custom services, immediate need, and traditional services, handled with the utmost care by their licensed directors. General services start at $1,740. For families preferring a traditional approach, basic burial services begin at $6,010, while direct cremation is available from $1,740. The staff is experienced in coordinating with various faith traditions, specifically Christian (non-denominational services available) and Diverse faiths (accommodated through personalized and celebrant services).
Little Rock Funeral Home is a premier funeral home located at 8801 Knoedl Ct. in Little Rock, AR. The property features well-appointed spaces including spacious chapel and family-owned crematory. Professional offerings include custom services, immediate need, and traditional services, handled with the utmost care by their licensed directors. General services start at $3,495. For families preferring a traditional approach, basic burial services begin at $3,105, while direct cremation is available from $3,500. The staff is experienced in coordinating with various faith traditions, specifically Christian.
Roller-Drummond Funeral Home is a premier funeral home located at 10900 Interstate 30 in Little Rock, AR. With deep roots in the community, they provide a peaceful and accommodating environment to honor the memory of loved ones. Direct cremation services are provided starting at $1,995. The staff is experienced in coordinating with various faith traditions, specifically Christian.
Boyd Funeral Home Inc is a premier funeral home located at 207 East 2Nd Street in Lonoke, AR. The property features well-appointed spaces including office area, state rooms, and lobby. Professional offerings include traditional services, cremation services, and personalization, handled with the utmost care by their licensed directors. Direct cremation services are provided starting at $1,420. The staff is experienced in coordinating with various faith traditions, specifically Baptist, Church of Christ, and Apostolic.
Boyd Funeral Home is a premier funeral home located at 207 E 2nd St-PO Box 217 in Lonoke, AR. With deep roots in the community, they provide a peaceful and accommodating environment to honor the memory of loved ones. The firm's dedication to service is reflected in their 3.9-star Google rating across 17 reviews.
Smith Family Funeral Homes-Benton Chapel is a premier funeral home located at 322 North Market Street in Benton, AR. The property features well-appointed spaces including chapel. Professional offerings include funerals, cremations, and memorials, handled with the utmost care by their licensed directors. General services start at $3,495. For families preferring a traditional approach, basic burial services begin at $3,995, while direct cremation is available from $995.
Griffin Leggett Conway Funeral Home is a premier funeral home located at 1751 Dave Ward Drive in Conway, AR. The property features well-appointed spaces including conway chapel and lobby. Professional offerings include custom services, immediate need, and traditional services, handled with the utmost care by their licensed directors. General services start at $3,500. For families preferring a traditional approach, basic burial services begin at $2,500, while direct cremation is available from $3,500. The staff is experienced in coordinating with various faith traditions, specifically Christian (various denominations) and Catholic.