CHG_CANON Loc: the Windy City

Jefferson Barracks National Cemetery is an American military cemetery located in St. Louis County, Missouri, on the west side of the Mississippi River, south of the city center of St. Louis. Strategically located along the Mississippi River at the eastern edge of the lands of the Louisiana Purchase territory, the U.S. Army initially established Jefferson Barracks in 1826 as both a supply center and a troop training and staging facility. Thomas Jefferson died shortly after the military selected the site and the post was named in his honor.

October 2017
St Louis, MO

Jefferson Barracks National Cemetery by Paul Sager, on Flickr


The cemetery is administered by the Department of Veterans Affairs on the former site of Jefferson Barracks. The cemetery covers 331 acres and the number of interments as of 2014 is approximately 188,000.

Jefferson Barracks National Cemetery


The Jefferson Barracks Military Post was an active U.S. Army installation from 1826 through 1946. It is the oldest operating U.S. military installation west of the Mississippi River, and it is now used as a base for the Army and Air National Guard.

Jefferson Barracks National Cemetery


Among the burials at Jefferson Barracks are those from Fort Bellefontaine, which was active between 1806 to 1826. The remains of three Revolutionary War veterans are also interred in the cemetery.

Jefferson Barracks National Cemetery


The Civil War initiated a formal network of United States military cemeteries. The first general U.S. cemetery legislation was an omnibus bill enacted July 17, 1862, authorizing President Lincoln "to purchase cemetery grounds, and cause them to be securely enclosed, to be used as a national cemetery for the soldiers who shall have died in the service of the country." By the end of the year, the first 14 national cemeteries were created.

Jefferson Barracks National Cemetery


During the American Civil War (1861-1865), Jefferson Barracks served as a military hospital for both sides and a recruitment depot for the North.

Jefferson Barracks National Cemetery


Untold thousands of Civil War soldiers killed in battle or lost to illness were buried in unmarked or mass graves. The chaotic nature of mid-19th century warfare, the appalling casualty figures, and poor record-keeping contributed to the high percentage of unidentified dead.

Jefferson Barracks National Cemetery


The original portion of the cemetery was set aside for the burial of military and civilian personnel who died at the garrison. In 1869 the cemetery experienced enormous growth when more than 10,200 recovered remains of soldiers originally buried at other Missouri locations were removed to Jefferson Barracks. About 470 victims of smallpox at Arsenal Island, Illinois were also reinterred here.

Jefferson Barracks National Cemetery


The old cemetery contains approximately 20,000 gravesites, including more than 1,000 Confederate dead. During this era, Union dead were interred in sections by state, as far as that could be determined from the remains.

Jefferson Barracks National Cemetery


More than 4.1 million people, including Veterans of every war and conflict, from the Revolutionary War to the wars in Iraq and Afghanistan, are honored by burial in the 162 US national cemeteries.

Jefferson Barracks National Cemetery


These images are sized to fill your wide-screen display. Try using <F11> to maximize your browser window for the full effect. If the images overshoot your display, such as a laptop, just click on the image or the URL link and they'll resize to your screen from the host Flickr site. You can click a bit further into the image details on the Flickr page, if desired. EXIF data is available from the host Flickr pages as well. On the Flickr site, use your <L>key for Large and the <F11> for the full-screen.

jederick Loc: Northern Utah

Terrific photography of a solemn area, Paul, your photography is always a visual treat. Thanks for sharing!!

JRiepe Loc: Southern Illinois

Very nice images and interesting history you provided. I've been in that area many times passing through to other destinations but have never visited the cemetery.

Longshadow Loc: Audubon, PA, United States

Impressive...

sippyjug104 Loc: Missouri

My father was a Korean War veteran who is laid to rest there along with my mother. The park area also has many historic buildings that are open for viewing as well as the beauty of the park itself including the overlook of the Mississippi River.

PixelStan77 Loc: Vermont/Chicago

Paul, Very interesting dialogue and outstanding images to support them. Thanks for sharing. Stan
Most emotional image for me was the unknown soldier.

Picture Taker Loc: Michigan Thumb

You captured the feeling. Great shots

tradio Loc: Oxford, Ohio

Well documented.

Saigon Loc: Atlanta, GA

Great series and history Paul....Years ago I visited Mardasson Memorial at the Bastogne War Museum in Belgium (at Germany border) - It was quite an experience with all the WW II movies which the G.I. had introduced to us during Vietnam war (still in middle and high school then...Lol)! Thanks

CHG_CANON Loc: the Windy City

Thank you JRiepe! In Sept / Oct 2017, I did a large circle of Chicago to Cleveland and down along the southern portions of the states going west along the Ohio River to St Louis. I visited several national cemeteries in OH, IN, IL, and MO, leaving many others for the next trip(s) to these areas.

CHG_CANON Loc: the Windy City

Thank you sippyjug104! My grandfather was a WWII veteran and buried in Arlington. Over the years I've made an effort to visit national cemeteries, particularly those here in the Midwest that tended to be both training centers and POW camps during the war.

CHG_CANON Loc: the Windy City

Thank you Stan! I've done a good deal of reading about the cemeteries, battles, and the POW camps from the war. The technology and organization of the times were not up to what would be needed to remember the names and units and states of the fallen. But still, it's heart breaking to walk through thousands of unknown soldiers, now known only to God.

CHG_CANON Loc: the Windy City

Thank you Saigon! With the 75th anniversary of VE day this last Spring, I've read a few books this year about the 1944-45 portions of the year, the Battle of Normandy being the most recent subject. I've actually started formulating a visit to France / Belgium with an emphasis of WWI and WWII cemeteries.

CHG_CANON Loc: the Windy City

Thank you jederick, JRiepe, Bill, sippyjug104, Stan, Picture Taker, tradio, Saigon! I knew little about Jefferson Barracks before I arrived. The trees that Fall in 2017 were slow in turning, where even St Louis in late October seemed still a bit early. The cemetery is massive and a recommended stop if you're in area.

UTMike Loc: South Jordan, UT

An excellent set, Paul!