Keokuk National Cemetery

Keokuk National Cemetery Keokuk National Cemetery Until 1837, the sole inhabitants of the area that is now the town of Keokuk, IA, were members of the Sauk and Fox tribes.

In 1837, however, the tribes agreed to a treaty that allowed limited settlement of white farmers. Shortly after the treaty went into effect, white settlers began to migrate into the area. But the greatest number of settlers did not arrive until 1842 when a second treaty compelled the Fox and Sauk to move farther west. The treaty would go into effect in May 1842, although white settlers had begun c

amping along the county border a month earlier. Subsequently, at one minute after midnight on May 1, anxious settlers rushed in to stake their land claims. By the beginning of the Civil War, Keokuk was home to a population of approximately 13,000 people. Its location, at the confluence of the Des Moines and Mississippi rivers, made an ideal location for the transportation of produce for the war. The first Civil War facility in Iowa was Camp Ellsworth, located near Keokuk, where troops were mustered as early as May 1861. More posts, including Camps Rankin, Halleck and Lincoln were established in 1861 and 1862. As the war progressed, five Army hospitals were established in the area to help care for the thousands of sick and wounded soldiers transported up the Mississippi River from Southern battlefields. Most of the original interments at Keokuk National Cemetery came from these hospitals. The 2.75-acre Keokuk National Cemetery was originally a part of Oakland Cemetery until the city donated the land to the U.S. government in the mid 19th-century. According to an 1871 inspection report, just after the Civil War there were 627 interments; 600 known Union soldiers and 27 unknown soldiers. Not mentioned in the report were the remains of eight Confederate soldiers buried at the national cemetery, who died in Keokuk as prisoners of war. In 1908, when the frontier post of Fort Yates, ND, was abandoned, the remains buried at this post cemetery were reinterred at Keokuk. Similarly, in 1948, 156 bodies removed from the post cemetery at Des Moines, IA, were reinterred here. Keokuk National Cemetery was placed on the National Register of Historic Places in 1997.

We have a great opportunity coming up before and after Memorial Day that families and groups can participate in. See th...
04/21/2026

We have a great opportunity coming up before and after Memorial Day that families and groups can participate in. See the information listed below, if you have any questions our staff are available Mon-Fri from 07:30am to 4:00pm CST.

04/03/2026

Good afternoon everyone, our phone lines as well as fax lines are fully operational as of 11:00am. Thank you for your patience while we resolved this issue.

04/02/2026

Good morning everyone, We are unfortunately experiencing some technical difficulties with our phone lines at the cemetery. Until this issue is resolved families/visitors can Facebook message our team or reach out to us at [email protected]. For immediate assistance please contact Rock Island National Cemetery at 309-784-0000. If you need assistance with burial/eligibility determinations please contact the scheduling office at 1-800-535-1117. Thank you for understanding while we get this issue resolved.

Today, visitors to Keokuk National Cemetery have the option of sharing their feedback online through our Visitor Experie...
03/13/2026

Today, visitors to Keokuk National Cemetery have the option of sharing their feedback online through our Visitor Experience Survey. Your responses will help us improve. Visit https://bit.ly/3cXNal1 to share your feedback.

03/02/2026

Friendly reminder to folks that cemetery staff will be going through the cemetery grounds this week to pick up artificial flowers from the winter season. Staff will have all floral arrangements picked up and placed next to the dumpster for 60 days, in the event someone is not able to make it out to the cemetery to retrieve any items.

02/11/2026

VA's National Cemetery Administration scored 98 out of 100 on the American Customer Satisfaction Index, the highest ever attained. This marks the eighth consecutive time NCA has ranked first nationwide in the survey. The average government score for 2025 is 70. No other public, private or nonprofit organization in the country has received the consistently high customer satisfaction ratings as NCA over the past decade-plus.

https://news.va.gov/press-room/va-sets-new-record-for-customer-satisfaction-in-memorial-services/

We have received new materials to share VA burial and Memorial benefits that veterans and their families may be eligible...
02/09/2026

We have received new materials to share VA burial and Memorial benefits that veterans and their families may be eligible for. Stop in our administrative office anytime Monday through Friday from 07:30am to 4pm.

01/13/2026

We look forward to seeing any and all volunteers that want to brave the cold to come out and participate! This will only include the wreaths from the Wreaths Across America that were placed in early December. All other artificial flowers/decorations placed on your loved ones gravesite will not be disturbed. Beginning March 1st artificial flowers and other decorations will be removed from gravesites in preparation for mowing operations.

***update to timeline***
Due to extreme cold temperatures, wreath pick up has been rescheduled for Thursday January 22nd at 9:30am. Thank you to all volunteers that plan to attend!

Send a message to learn more

12/23/2025

In compliance with an executive order signed by President Trump, the administrative office at Keokuk National Cemetery will be closed on Wednesday, December 24, 2025 and Friday, December 26, 2025 in addition to the Christmas Day holiday.
The cemetery will remain open for visitors, however there will be no staff on site. Staff will be back on site Monday, December 29, 2025 for interment operations.

Cemetery staff will be attending and available to assist veterans tomorrow at this event. Come say hello and learn abou...
12/18/2025

Cemetery staff will be attending and available to assist veterans tomorrow at this event. Come say hello and learn about the veterans resources available to you!

12/13/2025

Due to weather the wreaths across America coordinator has cancelled the ceremony that was to be held at the armory. Please follow their page as updates will be coming in as they know more!

12/12/2025

Send a message to learn more

Address

1701 J Street
Keokuk, IA
52632

Opening Hours

Monday 7:30am - 4pm
Tuesday 7:30am - 4pm
Wednesday 7:30am - 4pm
Thursday 7:30am - 4pm
Friday 7:30am - 4pm

Telephone

+13195245193

Website

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