Black Hills National Cemetery
Black Hills National Cemetery, originally named Fort Meade National Cemetery, is a United States National Cemetery near Sturgis, South Dakota. Named after the nearby Black Hills, over 29,000 interments of military veterans and their family members have taken place since its founding in 1948. It is administered by the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs (VA), which also operates the nearby Fort Meade National Cemetery. It was the first—and currently, the only active—national cemetery in South Dakota.
| Black Hills National Cemetery | |
|---|---|
Headstones in the Black Hills National Cemetery | |
| Details | |
| Established | October 3, 1948 |
| Location | Sturgis, South Dakota |
| Country | United States |
| Coordinates | 44°22′08″N 103°28′33″W |
| Type | Public, national |
| Owned by | United States Department of Veterans Affairs |
| Size | 105.9 acres (42.9 ha) |
| No. of graves | 23,000+ |
| No. of interments | 29,000+ |
| Website | Black Hills Nat'l Cemetery |
| Find a Grave | Black Hills National Cemetery |
Black Hills National Cemetery | |
U.S. National Register of Historic Places | |
| NRHP reference No. | 16000258 |
| Added to NRHP | May 17, 2016 |
Prominent features of the cemetery include its committal shelter, where memorial services and events are held; and the Avenue of Flags leading up to it. Although primarily hosting lawn graves, three columbaria were built in 2010, which allow the interment of ashes. Several memorial structures have been placed on the grounds since its inception, including one each for veterans of the Korean War and the Vietnam War. Multiple notable people are buried in the cemetery.