Prescott National Cemetery is one of the original twelve national cemeteries established by Congress in 1862. It was created to bury the soldiers who died at Fort Whipple and in the Indian Wars campaigns in the Arizona Territory. The grounds are compact — a little over 10 acres — and impeccably maintained in the manner of all national cemeteries.
The earliest burials date from the 1860s and include soldiers from the Civil War era as well as those who served in frontier campaigns. The uniform white markers stand in precise rows across the sloping ground. It is a quiet, dignified place and a reminder that Arizona's European settlement history is considerably older than most visitors assume.
The cemetery is still active, with veterans of more recent conflicts buried alongside the territorial-era soldiers. Open during daylight hours; access is free.