Fayetteville National Cemetery - History

History

The original plot of 5 acres (2.0 ha) of land for the National Cemetery was purchased from local residents in 1867, it was laid out in sections with space for around 1,800 interments. The first interments were remains moved from battlefield cemeteries of the Battle of Prairie Grove and the Battle of Pea Ridge. By 1871 there were 1,200 interments made in the cemetery, most of which were unidentified.

During World War II the cemetery was enlarged and five more sections were added.

In 1989, the Regional National Cemetery Improvement Corporation (a group of locals, veterans, and other concerned benefactors) raised enough money to purchase an additional 3 acres (1.2 ha) of land, and donated it to the cemetery.

Fayetteville National Cemetery was placed on the National Register of Historic Places on July 28, 1999.

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