Wilmington National Cemetery

GPS Coordinates: 34.237880, -77.922678
Location: Wilmington, New Hanover County
Record count: 6,493

Ownership: National Cemetery Administration, U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs

Directions: Located in the north-west portion of the city limits, the cemetery sits on the north side of Market St. (Business US-17), at the intersection with S 20th St.

Background: Wilmington National Cemetery was established in 1867 on land purchased from a local resident, following the Union capture of Wilmington during the Civil War. Fort Fisher, which protected Wilmington's harbor, the Confederacy's last major supply route to General Lee's army, fell to Union forces on January 15, 1865, after fierce fighting involving over 3,300 troops including the 27th U.S. Colored Troops.

Most original interments were remains relocated from Wilmington City Cemetery, Fort Fisher, Fort Johnson, and surrounding areas. By May 1870, the cemetery contained 2,039 burials, including 698 known and 1,341 unknown graves. The cemetery also holds 28 Puerto Rican laborers who died during the 1918 influenza epidemic while traveling to construct Camp Bragg. Wilmington National Cemetery was added to the National Register of Historic Places in 1997.

Burial Records

• View All Transcriptions Combined, 6,493 records
  • Unidentified Burials, by Interment.net, April 17, 2025, (1,586 records)
  • Veterans Affairs Database, by Interment.net, April 17, 2025, (4,907 records)

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