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Keokuk National Cemetery

Coordinates: 40°23′58″N 91°24′13″W / 40.39944°N 91.40361°W / 40.39944; -91.40361
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Keokuk National Cemetery
Keokuk National Cemetery is located in Iowa
Keokuk National Cemetery
Keokuk National Cemetery is located in the United States
Keokuk National Cemetery
Location1701 J St.
Keokuk, Iowa
Coordinates40°23′58″N 91°24′13″W / 40.39944°N 91.40361°W / 40.39944; -91.40361
Area21.7 acres (8.8 ha)
Built1862
ArchitectMontgomery C. Meigs
Architectural styleSecond Empire
MPSCivil War Era National Cemeteries MPS
NRHP reference No.97000528[1]
Added to NRHPJune 04, 1997

Keokuk National Cemetery is a United States National Cemetery located in the city of Keokuk in Lee County, Iowa. It encompasses 22.7 acres (9.2 ha), and as of 2021, had over 6,000 interments. It is administered by Rock Island National Cemetery.

History

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Keokuk National Cemetery was created in a separate, donated plot of Oakland Cemetery during the American Civil War as a place to inter veterans who died in the five military hospitals in the area. By the end of the Civil War, the cemetery had the interments of over 600 Union soldiers, and 8 Confederate prisoners of war.

In 1908 when Fort Yates, North Dakota was abandoned, the remains in its post cemetery were moved to Keokuk National Cemetery. In 1948, another post cemetery, in Des Moines, Iowa, also had its remains moved to the National Cemetery.

Keokuk National Cemetery was placed on the National Register of Historic Places in 1997.

Notable monuments

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The Unknown Soldiers monument was erected in 1912 by the Women's Corps of Keokuk in honor of 48 unknown soldiers buried at the cemetery. The monument is a large granite obelisk topped with the figure of a Union soldier standing at parade rest.

Unknown Soldiers Monument

The American War Dads and Auxiliaries of Iowa erected a bronze wreath dedicated to Unknown Soldiers. Date of dedication is unknown.

Notable interments

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References

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  1. ^ "National Register Information System". National Register of Historic Places. National Park Service. March 13, 2009.
  2. ^ [1] CWGC casualty record.
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