Exploring the Final Resting Places of Alexandria’s Past
The cemeteries of Alexandria stand as powerful testaments to the city’s rich history and diverse heritage. These burial grounds, some dating back to the 18th century, hold the stories of Revolutionary War heroes, Civil War soldiers, religious leaders, and civic pioneers. From the historic cemeteries of Old Town to the Wilkes Street Cemetery Complex, these sites offer a unique window into Alexandria’s past.
This directory highlights many of the cemeteries of Alexandria, providing names, locations, and contact information. While not a complete list of every burial ground, it is a valuable resource for exploring Alexandria’s historic and active cemeteries. Some burial sites have been lost to time and development, while others have undergone disinterments and reburials in established cemeteries, such as Ivy Hill Cemetery.
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Historic Cemeteries of Alexandria
These cemeteries date back to the 18th and 19th centuries and are rich in historical significance. They feature the graves of early settlers, war heroes, and civic leaders. More details about notable burials can be found on Gravestone Stories.
In Historic Old Town Alexandria
Old Presbyterian Meeting House 18th-Century Burial Ground (circa 1761)
Historical Significance: John Carlyle, Rev. James Muir, Dr. James Craik, and the Tomb of the Unknown Soldier of the Revolutionary War
Location: 323 S. Fairfax Street, Alexandria, VA 22314
Phone: 703-549-6670
Christ Church 18th-Century Burial Ground (circa 1773)Historical Significance: Revolutionary War figures and early city leaders Location: 118 N Washington St, Alexandria, VA 22314 Phone: 703-549-1450
Quaker Burial Ground (1784)Historical Significance: Once the primary burial site for Alexandria’s Quaker community, it is now the site of the Kate Waller Barrett Library. Of the 159 recorded burials, 66 were reinterred on the property, while others remain in their original plots. Location: 717 Queen St, Alexandria, VA 22314 Phone:703-746-1703 (Kate Waller Barrett Library)
✟ St. Mary’s Catholic Cemetery (1795)Historical Significance: The oldest Catholic burial ground in Virginia, containing burials of early Catholic families, priests, and prominent Alexandrians. Location: 1001 S. Royal Street, Alexandria, VA 22314 Phone: 703-836-4100
Freedmen’s Cemetery (1863)Historical Significance: Established as a burial ground for freed and formerly enslaved African Americans, now commemorated as a memorial park honoring their legacy. Location: 1001 S. Washington Street, Alexandria, VA 22314 Phone: 703-746-4356
Wilkes Street Cemetery Complex
Located in Old Town Alexandria, the Wilkes Street Cemetery Complex consists of 13 distinct cemeteries, each with its unique history.
Penny Hill Cemetery (1796)Historical Significance: Alexandria’s public cemetery, for nearly 180 years, was primarily used for pauper burials. One hundred twenty victims of Alexandria’s 1803 Yellow Fever Epidemic, along with many early Civil War Contrabands, are buried here. It is the final resting place of lynching victims Joseph McCoy (1897) and Benjamin Thomas (1899), two young African American men murdered by white mobs in Alexandria. Location: S. Payne Street & Jefferson Street, Alexandria, VA 22314 Phone: 703-546-4554. Maintained by the Office of Historic Alexandria (OHA)
Christ Church Cemetery (1808)Historical Significance: The final resting place of descendants of Richard Henry Lee, a signer of the Declaration of Independence, and Revolutionary War soldiers, including Major Samuel Cooper, who participated in The Boston Tea Party. His son, General Samuel Cooper, C.S.A., was the highest-ranking Confederate general in the American Civil War.
Many members of the Mason and Lee families are also buried here, including Commodore Sydney Smith Lee and General John Mason. Location: 1501 Wilkes Street, Alexandria, VA 22314 Phone: 703-549-1450
Presbyterian Cemetery (1809)Historical Significance: Founded in 1809, Presbyterian Cemetery holds over 2,500 burials, including many descendants of Alexandria’s 1749 founders. With more available burial space than any other cemetery within the city, it remains active today. The cemetery is the final resting place of prominent citizens, ministers, and military veterans, including those who served in the War of 1812 and the Civil War. Location: 600 Hamilton Lane, Alexandria, VA 22314 Phone: 703-869-0872
Email: cemetery@opmh.org
Contact: David Heiby, Superintendent & Founder of Gravestone Stories
St. Paul’s Cemetery (1809)Historical Significance: Final resting place of over 1,500 individuals, including the Fairfaxes, Hooffs, and Smoots. The grave of the ‘Female Stranger,’ an enigmatic figure from 1816, intrigues visitors. Location: 601 Hamilton Lane, Alexandria, VA 22314 Phone: 571-317-4306. Mr Andrew Blair, Superintendent.
Trinity Cemetery (1809)Historical Significance: The resting place of over 550 individuals, including eight Revolutionary War veterans and a former mayor of Alexandria. The cemetery also honors pioneers from Alexandria’s free Black community. Location: 1503 Wilkes Street, Alexandria, VA 22314 Phone: 703-549-5500
Methodist Protestant Cemetery (1833)Historical Significance: Established in 1833, the Methodist Protestant Cemetery served as the burial ground for Alexandria’s Methodist Protestant Church after its split from the Methodist Episcopal Church in 1828. Now maintained by the City of Alexandria, this inactive cemetery holds around 1,500 interments and is a testament to the city’s Methodist heritage. Location: 1500 Wilkes Street, Alexandria, VA 22314 Phone: 703-546-4554. Maintained by the Office of Historic Alexandria (OHA)
Home of Peace Cemetery (1860)Historical Significance: The oldest Jewish cemetery in Virginia, reflecting the early Jewish community’s presence in the city. Location: 600 block of S. Payne Street, Alexandria, VA 22314 Phone: 703-370-9400
Union Cemetery (1860)Historical Significance: Founded by the Methodist Episcopal Church South, Union Cemetery remains an active burial site today. Location: 1400 Wilkes Street, Alexandria, VA 22314 Phone: 703-548-8281,or cell 571-214-3617. Mr. James Click, operator
Alexandria National Cemetery (1862)
Historical Significance: One of the nation’s oldest military cemeteries, predating Arlington National Cemetery. Over 4,230 individuals are buried here, including 249 U.S. Colored Troops (USCT) soldiers from the Civil War. Location: 1450 Wilkes Street, Alexandria, VA 22314 Phone: 703-221-2183. Maintained by Quantico National Cemetery, 18424 Joplin Rd, Triangle, VA 22172
Bethel Cemetery (1885)Historical Significance: Established in 1885, Bethel Cemetery occupies land once part of Spring Garden Farm. Location: 1300 Wilkes Street, Alexandria, VA 22314 Phone: 703-548-8281,or cell 571-214-3617. Mr. James Click, owner/operator
Black Baptist Cemetery (1885)Historical Significance: Established by the Silver Leaf (Colored) Society of Alexandria, now preserved in the Alexandria African American Heritage Park. Location: 500 Holland Lane, Alexandria, VA 22314 Phone: 703-546-4554. Maintained by the Office of Historic Alexandria (OHA)
Douglass Cemetery (1895)Historical Significance: Served as a burial ground for Alexandria’s African American community until 1976. Location: 1421 Wilkes Street, Alexandria, VA 22314 Phone: 703-546-4554. Maintained by the Office of Historic Alexandria (OHA)
Agudas Achim Cemetery (1933)Historical Significance: Established by Orthodox Jewish immigrants, later becoming part of Alexandria’s Conservative Jewish community. Location: 700 S. Payne Street, Alexandria, VA 22314 Phone: 703 998-6460
Located Elsewhere in Alexandria
Ivy Hill Cemetery (1856)Historical Significance: Established in 1856, Ivy Hill Cemetery spans 22 acres and is the final resting place of Bryan Fairfax, 8th Lord Fairfax of Cameron, a close friend of George Washington, as well as volunteer firefighters, war veterans, and community leaders. It also features a Firefighters Memorial honoring those lost in the 1855 Dowell China Shop fire and is home to rare, protected flora and fauna, making it a unique part of Alexandria’s landscape. Location: 2823 King Street, Alexandria, VA 22302 Phone: 703-549-7413
Website: Ivy Hill Cemetery
Virginia Theological Seminary Cemetery (1876)Historical Significance: Established in 1876, this cemetery is part of the Episcopal Virginia Theological Seminary, founded in 1823. During the Civil War, the seminary was converted into Fairfax Seminary Hospital, treating 1,700 wounded Federal troops. Two temporary burial sites were created nearby, but by the end of the war, all remains were disinterred and primarily reburied in Arlington National Cemetery, with a few moved to Alexandria National Cemetery. After the war, the Virginia Theological Seminary Cemetery became an active burial site, with 93 individuals interred. Location: 3737 Seminary Road, Alexandria, VA 22304
Conclusion
Alexandria’s cemeteries stand as enduring memorials to the city’s rich and diverse history. Spanning centuries, these burial grounds tell the stories of Revolutionary War heroes, Civil War soldiers, religious leaders, civic pioneers, and members of Alexandria’s African American and Jewish communities. From the historic cemeteries of Old Town to the expansive Wilkes Street Cemetery Complex, each site offers a unique window into the past.
Among the most significant is Alexandria National Cemetery, the final resting place of 249 United States Colored Troops (USCT) soldiers who fought for the Union during the Civil War. Despite facing discrimination, these men displayed extraordinary courage, and their graves serve as a lasting tribute to their sacrifice in the fight for freedom and equality.
Whether you’re a history enthusiast, genealogist, or simply seeking a quiet place of reflection, Alexandria’s cemeteries provide a profound connection to the past. From visiting the Tomb of the Unknown Soldier of the Revolutionary War to honoring USCT soldiers or paying respects at Freedmen’s Cemetery, these sacred spaces ensure that the legacies of those who came before are never forgotten.
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