Overview
The Wilkes Street Cemetery Complex is a historic burial ground in Alexandria, VA, featuring a collection of thirteen separate cemeteries, each managed independently. It offers a unique glimpse into the area’s rich history and serves as the final resting place for a diverse group of individuals. Please note that funerals and events occur regularly, and road closures may impact accessibility. Since these events are planned independently by each cemetery, there is no centralized location for updates. Visitors are encouraged to plan accordingly and be flexible when visiting.
Take the Self-Guided Walking Tour
Ready to explore on your own? Download our free Self-Guided Walking Tour Map of the Wilkes Street Cemetery Complex. This tri-fold guide leads you through all thirteen cemeteries at your own pace, with a map to orient you and highlights along the way. Print it at home or pull it up on your phone when you arrive.
Download the Self-Guided Walking Tour Map (PDF)
Prefer a guided experience? Book a tour with Gravestone Stories and let a public historian bring these grounds to life. Private group tours are available for organizations, clubs, and gatherings of any size — details on the same page. Book a tour with Gravestone Stories.
How to Get There
Tap or click the map for turn-by-turn Google directions to the entrance at 1300 Wilkes Street.
Driving Directions:
Enter the Wilkes Street Cemetery Complex at 1300 Wilkes Street, Alexandria, VA 22314. (The 1475–1501 Wilkes St address marks the Wilkes and Hamilton intersection — the starting point for our guided tours.)
Walking Directions:
Option 1: From Old Town, take the tunnel at Lee St Park and follow Wilkes St 1 mile west.
Option 2: From Eisenhower Valley, walk along Holland Ln and Jamieson Ave, then cross the Hooff’s Run bridge to the pedestrian gate that leads into the Alexandria National Cemetery at 1450 Wilkes St. Note: this route depends on the National Cemetery’s gates being open, so check the cemetery’s posted hours before relying on it.
By Trolley:
Take the free King Street Trolley to the King St & West St stop. From this stop:
- Start at the corner of Duke Street and South West Street. (The Executive Diner, at 1400 Duke Street, marks the corner.)
- Continue south on South West Street for two more blocks
- Cross over Roundhouse Lane and enter a small park ahead of you.
- Follow the path through the park to 1300 Wilkes Street, where you can enter the Wilkes Street Cemetery Complex.
- For guided tours, turn right and continue one block west to the corner of Wilkes Street and Hamilton Avenue, our meeting point.
Additional Notes
Event Awareness: Be mindful of funeral services and events that may cause temporary road closures or restricted access.
Public Transportation: The Wilkes Street Cemetery Complex is accessible by various forms of public transportation, including buses and the free King Street Trolley.
Accessibility: Some areas of the cemetery may feature uneven terrain. Comfortable walking shoes are recommended.
Parking: While ample parking is available, weekends can be busier.
Resources
For more information about the history of the Wilkes Street Cemetery Complex, or to plan your visit, explore other sections of our website or contact us directly.
Looking for more printable guides? Browse all of our free brochures and walking maps on the Free Guides page. And if you’d like to carry the stories with you, our e-book library includes the Wilkes Street Walking Companion and other titles on Alexandria’s historic burial grounds.
A Place Worth Lingering
The Wilkes Street Cemetery Complex is more than a destination — it’s an open-air archive of Alexandria’s story, told through thirteen cemeteries at a time. Whether you come for an hour or an afternoon, walk slowly, read the stones, and remember that every name here belonged to someone who helped shape this city. We hope your visit leaves you with a deeper connection to Alexandria’s past — and if a particular gravestone raises a question, we’d love to hear about it.
Gravestone Stories — preserving Alexandria’s history, one story at a time.
