Barrancas National Cemetery

Barrancas National Cemetery is a United States National Cemetery located at Naval Air Station Pensacola, in the city of Pensacola, Florida. It encompasses 94.9 acres (38.4 ha), and as of 2021 had over 50,000 interments.

Barrancas National Cemetery
Barrancas National Cemetery is located in Florida
Barrancas National Cemetery
Barrancas National Cemetery is located in the United States
Barrancas National Cemetery
LocationPensacola, Florida, United States
Coordinates30°21′18″N 87°17′09″W / 30.3551382°N 87.2859486°W / 30.3551382; -87.2859486
Area45.1 acres (18.3 ha)
MPSCivil War Era National Cemeteries MPS
NRHP reference No.98000083[1]
Added to NRHPFebruary 12, 1998

History

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The area has been used as a burial ground since the construction of Fort Barrancas. In 1838 it was established as a United States Navy cemetery. During the Civil War, Pensacola was hotly contested, as it was considered to be the best port for access to the Gulf of Mexico. Numerous soldiers on both sides were interred in the cemetery after falling in combat, or dying in nearby hospitals. After the war, in 1868, Barrancas was officially made a National Cemetery and many other nearby makeshift burial grounds were disinterred and relocated to Barrancas. In each year, 1944, 1950, 1986, and 1990, more area was transferred from NAS Pensacola to expand the facilities for the cemetery.

Notable monuments

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Barrancas National Cemetery has a monument honoring those soldiers who died from yellow fever. It was erected in 1884 by the Marine Guard of the Pensacola Navy Yard.

Notable interments

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The cemetery also holds 17 casualties of the Second Seminole War and 10 British aviators (6 Royal Navy, 4 Royal Air Force) killed during training at the Naval Air Station during World War II.[2]

See also

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References

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  1. ^ "National Register Information System". National Register of Historic Places. National Park Service. July 9, 2010.
  2. ^ "CWGC Cemetery Report. Breakdown obtained from casualty record".
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