GENERAL INFORMATION

This cemetery is within Bellevue Cemetery (City of Danville, Boyle County).

back to top

HISTORICAL INFORMATION

Danville National Cemetery is located within the city of Boyle County, Bellevue Cemetery, Ky. Danville, Ky., is the county seat, situated about 40 miles southwest of Frankfort. The Dick’s River, a primary watershed and one of the geographic references during the settlement era, is located three miles east of town. Danville was among the first settlements in what was then the county of Kentucky, established in 1787 by the Virginia legislature.

Kentucky's first governor, Isaac Shelby, made his home at Danville. The seat of Kentucky's government was first established here. Members of the first Constitutional Convention met in Danville and adopted the first state constitution. In 1792, the government was removed to Lexington before settling eventually in Frankfort. Walker Daniel laid out the town, and gave the community its identity – Danville.

At the beginning of the Civil War, the federal government appropriated 18 cemetery lots from the town of Danville within the limits of what was called Danville City Cemetery. The small soldiers lot was established as a national cemetery in 1862. In 1876, it was designated a fourth class cemetery.

The lots covered an area less than half an acre and are laid off in the form of a rectangle. A square post of dressed limestone with the letters “U.S.” on the upper face marks each corner. The plot is divided into six sections, five of which are for the burial of solders and one for the interment of civilians. Most of the original interments were Union soldiers who died at the hospital in Danville, while the rest were primarily reinterments from regional cemeteries. A Confederate lot in the city cemetery with 66 interments adjoins Danville National Cemetery.
back to top

NOTABLE BURIALS

back to top

FLORAL/GROUNDS REGULATIONS

Danville National Cemetery is not responsible for any items left at gravesites.

Floral arrangements (up to six arrangements only) accompanying the casket or urn at the time of burial will be placed on the completed gravesite by cemetery staff. Natural cut flowers may be placed on graves at any time of the year. They will be removed when they become unsightly or when it becomes necessary to facilitate cemetery operations such as mowing.

Perma-vases are not permitted.

Artificial flowers and/or potted plants, in unbreakable containers only (cardboard, plastic, metal), are permitted on gravesites from Oct. 10 until April 15. They will also be permitted on graves 10 days before and 10 days after Easter Sunday and Memorial Day.

Items are subject to removal on the first and third Fridays during mowing season, and depending on the added frequency of mowing more often, up to twice a week.

Depending on the growing season, artificial flowers/potted plants may have to be removed to accommodate the early mowing season, up to twice per week.

Christmas wreaths, grave blankets, and related arrangements will be permitted on graves from Dec. 1 until Jan. 20. Grave floral blankets may not be larger than two by three feet, please do not wrap them in plastic, as it kills the grass.

Visitors may secure floral items and other decorations in place (in the ground). They may not be attached to headstones or markers. Floral stands and saddles are prohibited.

Unauthorized decorations such as permanent plantings, statues, vigil lights, upright metal flag holders and breakable objects of any kind, and similar commemorative items are not permitted on the gravesites or on the monuments.

Understanding that families may desire to keep certain floral arrangements, we have in place a procedure that, upon the families written request, cemetery personnel will place the arrangement in a designated location for 30 days, after which arrangements will be disposed of.

The staff at Danville National Cemetery would like to thank you for your cooperation in helping us to make Danville National Cemetery a national shrine, a final resting place of honor and dignity in honor to the veterans of this great nation.
back to top