North Alton Confederate Cemetery

Source: National Cemetery Administration · cem.va.gov · scraped May 2026

History of North Alton Confederate Cemetery

The prison building in Alton, Illinois, was constructed in 1833 to serve as the Illinois State Prison. Located in a low area close to the Mississippi River, the State of Illinois abandoned the prison in 1860 at the urging of social reformer Dorthea Dix, who complained about the unhealthy conditions there.

Soon after the outbreak of the Civil War, the federal government re-opened the facility as a Confederate prison. The maximum capacity of Alton prison was estimated at 800; in the last year of the war it held close to 1,900 Confederate prisoners.

As in many Confederate prisons, the inmate population was ravaged by disease, and over the course of the war smallpox claimed the lives of hundreds of prisoners. In an attempt to minimize the number of smallpox deaths, prison officials quarantined those stricken with the disease in a hospital on Tow Head Island, in the Mississippi River. Prisoners who died of smallpox were buried on the island itself. In the years after the Civil War, frequent flooding of the river eroded all of the grave markers. Today, the location of the smallpox hospital and the burials is unknown.

Confederates who died from causes other than smallpox were interred two miles north of Alton, in an area known as "Buck Inn." This became the official prison burial ground, and today is the location of the North Alton Confederate Cemetery.

Monuments and Memorials A Confederate monument erected by the United Daughters of the Confederacy in 1909 marks the collective graves of the soldiers. The names of 1,354 Confederate soldiers who died in the prison or on Tow Head Island are inscribed on six bronze plaques attached to the 58' high granite obelisk.

Notable interments

Veterans, public figures, and citizens of note buried at North Alton Confederate Cemetery, listed by section and site as recorded by the National Cemetery Administration.

Eligibility for burial at North Alton Confederate Cemetery

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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

From St. Louis Airport (East Alton, Illinois) take State Highway 111 to Broadway Street. Turn right on Broadway Street. Follow Broadway Street to College Avenue. Turn left on College Avenue. Follow College Avenue to Piasa Street. Turn right on Piasa Street then bear left on Belle Street. Continue on Belle Street to Rozier Street. Turn right on Rozier Street and travel approximately 500 feet the entrance of the cemetery.

From the North: Interstate 55 South to Exit 30. Turn right towards Illinois-140. Continue straight on SR-111. Approximately four miles turn left onto Godfrey Road. Name changes to State Street. In .1 mile turn right onto Rozier. From the South: Interstate 255 north. Make left turn onto SR-143 (Edwardsville Road). Approximately three miles make right turn onto SR-3 (Lewis and Clark Boulevard). Road name changes to SR-111. 3.5 miles turn left onto Godfrey Road. This becomes State Street. Turn right onto Rozier.

Floral and grounds policy

Fresh cut flowers may be placed on graves at any time. Metal temporary flower containers are permitted.

Artificial flowers may be placed on graves only during the period of October 10 through April 15.

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 North Alton Confederate Cemetery.

A National Cemetery System North Alton 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 North Alton Confederate Cemetery (by straight-line distance):

• Alton National Cemetery — Alton, IL (3 mi · closed)
• Jefferson Barracks National Cemetery — St. Louis, MO (29 mi · open)
• Camp Butler National Cemetery — Springfield, IL (72 mi · open)

Nearby veteran-friendly funeral homes

The following funeral homes within a 50-mile radius of North Alton Confederate Cemetery have demonstrated a commitment to serving veterans through specialized services, VA benefits coordination, or dedicated honors details.