Fort Lyon National Cemetery

Fort Lyon National Cemetery is a United States National Cemetery located near the city of Las Animas in Bent County, Colorado. It encompasses 51.9 acres (21.0 hectares) and as of the end of 2005 had 2,069 interments. It is administered by the Fort Logan National Cemetery.

History

Named for the first Union General to die in the Civil War, Nathaniel Lyon, the cemetery was established the first time in 1887, but the fort was abandoned in 1897 and the remains buried in the cemetery were transferred to Fort McPherson National Cemetery in Nebraska. In 1906 the Fort buildings were converted into a sanitarium to treat soldiers and prisoners of war with tuberculosis, and burials began in 1907. The cemetery was transferred to the National Cemetery system in 1973.

See also

External links