When Congress approved the creation of national cemeteries in 1862, the Fort Leavenworth cemetery became one of 14 national cemeteries to be designated or established as such that year. Of the original 14 national cemeteries, Fort Leavenworth National Cemetery was the largest and contained 36.10 acres. The oldest known burial at Fort Leavenworth National Cemetery is that of Clarinda Dale who died Sept. 21, 1844. She was originally interred in the old Fort Leavenworth Arsenal Cemetery. The oldest known military grave is that of Captain James Allen, 1st U.S. Dragoons, who died in August 1846. Like Miss Dale, Capt Allen was originally buried in Fort Leavenworth Arsenal Cemetery and later moved to the national cemetery.

The cemetery office is open Monday thru Friday 8:00 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. It is closed federal holidays except Memorial Day.

The cemetery is open daily from dawn until dusk.
Please visit their for more information.

Directions from nearest airport:
The cemetery is located on Fort Leavenworth Army Installation. From Kansas City International Airport, take Interstate 29 north 7.5 miles to Platte City (exit 20). Turn left and proceed through Platte City to Highway 92 and turn west for 8.5 miles. After crossing the bridge into Leavenworth continue to the second stop light. Turn right on Grant Avenue (you are now on the Army Installation) and go to the second stop light and turn left on Cody. Bear to the right around the golf course onto Biddle Boulevard. The cemetery is on your left.

The protocol for entering the base has changed. As of 2015 you must obtain a visitor's pass (still need photo id) at the white trailer located near the entrance on Sherman Avenue, immediately East of the Main Gate to the Fort.





Phone: 913-727-1376

FAX: 913-758-4136



Notable persons buried here:



Medal of Honor Recipients

The Medal of Honor is the highest award for valor in action against an enemy force that can be bestowed upon an individual serving in the Armed Services of the United States. Recipients receive the Medal of Honor from the president on behalf of Congress. It was first awarded during the Civil War and eligibility criteria for the Medal of Honor have changed over time.









Recipients buried or memorialized here:



Captain Harry Bell (Philippine Insurrection). He received the Medal of Honor while serving in the U.S. Army, 36th Infantry, for actions near Porac, Luzon, Philippine Islands, October 17, 1899. Bell died in 1938 and is buried in Section Officer A, Site 167.



Captain Thomas W. Custer (Civil War). He received the Medal of Honor twice while serving in the U.S. Army, Company B, 6th Michigan Cavalry; first for capturing the flag at Namozine Church, Virginia, on May 3, 1865, and second for actions at Sailor's Creek, Virginia, April 1865. Custer died in 1876 and is buried in Section A, Site 1488.



Lieutenant Commander William E. Hall (World War II). He received the Medal of Honor while serving in the U.S. Navy for actions in the Coral Sea (Pacific), May 7-8, 1942. Hall died in 1996 and is buried in Section I, Site 286.



Corporal John Kile (Indian Wars). He received the Medal of Honor while serving in the U.S. Army, Company M, 5th U.S. Cavalry, for actions near the Republican River, Kansas, July 8, 1869. His citation was awarded under the name of Kyle. Kile died in 1870 and is buried in Section H, Site 3341.



Private Fitz Lee (Spanish-American War). Fitz Lee was born in June 1866, in Dinwiddie County, VA. In 1889 he enlisted in the U.S. Army and served with Troop M, 10th Cavalry. At the beginning of his third enlistment, the United States declared war on Spain and Private Lee was among those in Tayabacoa in 1898. On June 30, Lee and four others volunteered to rescue wounded men stranded on the Cuban beach. For his bravery Lee was awarded the Medal of Honor in 1899, while hospitalized in Fort Bliss, Texas. Discharged in July, he went to Leavenworth, Kansas, where a supportive community of black veterans lived. They cared for Lee until his death on September 14, 1899. Lee was buried with full military honors in Section G, Site 3183.



Private Edward Pengally (Indian Wars). He received the Medal of Honor while serving in the U.S. Army, Company B, 8th U.S. Cavalry, for actions in the Chiricahua Mountains, Arizona Territory, October 20, 1869. Pengally died in 1874 and is buried in Section G, Site 3032.



First Sergeant Joseph Robinson (Indian Wars). He received the Medal of Honor while serving in the U.S. Army, Company D, 3rd U.S. Cavalry, for actions at the Rosebud River, Montana Territory, June 17, 1876. Robinson died in 1917 and is buried in Section D, Site 1296-D.



Private Albert D. Sale (Indian Wars). He received the Medal of Honor while serving in the U.S. Army, Company F, 8th U.S. Calvary, for actions at the Santa Maria River, Arizona Territory, June 29, 1869. Sale died in 1874 and is buried in Section E, Site 2706.



First Sergeant Jacob Widmer (Indian Wars). He received the Medal of Honor while serving in the U.S. Army, Company D, 5th U.S. Cavalry, for actions at Milk River, Colorado, September 29, 1879. Widmer died in 1880 and is buried in Section G, Site 3529.