You can now create your own itineraries to guide your C&O Canal exploration, or you can copy one of ours! Learn more about Itineraries.
Though cemeteries usually illicit thoughts of notable (albeit spooky) history, not many compare to the rich history you’ll find in Elmwood Cemetery. Learn more.
Though cemeteries usually illicit thoughts of notable (albeit spooky) history, not many compare to the rich history you’ll find in Elmwood Cemetery.
In 1780, Abraham Shepherd gave the Shepherdstown Presbyterian Church an acre of land, which is now the oldest part of the present cemetery. In 1833 the nearby Methodist Church purchased one-half acre that adjoined the border of the Presbyterian Graveyard. A fence originally separated the two cemeteries.
Elmwood Cemetery in Shepherdstown, West Virginia is the final resting place for approximately 252 Confederate soldiers, many of whom died during the Battle of Antietam. The wounded were brought to Shepherdstown and those who died in hospitals were buried in Elmwood Cemetery. The final resting place of Henry Kyd Douglas, staff of General “Stonewall” Jackson, is a popular site here. Also buried in Elmwood are two Revolutionary War veterans, one veteran of the war of 1812, and veterans of the First and Second World Wars. Dr. Joseph McMurran, the first president of Shepherd College and a Confederate veteran, also rests here.
In 1869 ten acres to the south and west of the existing church cemeteries were purchased by several town businessmen and donated for use as a public cemetery. The cemetery was dedicated on June 5, 1869 as Elmwood Cemetery, and a monument to the dead was dedicated the next year. Located on Route 480, Elmwood Cemetery is open to the public.
We know that to preserve something, you need to experience it, so we are proud to provide support to the C&O National Historical Park as their official philanthropic partner.
Please visit the National Park Service website for the following information:
For more information and nearby places to stay or grab a bite to eat, please visit our local tourism partners:
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There has been a lapse in appropriations, and a shutdown of the federal government is currently in effect. Much of the C&O Canal National Historical Park remains open to the public, however, the National Park Service is not able to operate as normal. Visitor services, including park visitor centers and other NPS-staffed facilities, will not be available. Inquiries to the National Park Service will not be received or responded to until the shutdown ends.
The C&O Canal Trust’s staff are currently working remotely. Scheduled Trust events and Canal Quarters reservations will continue as scheduled. While a federal government shutdown is in effect, visitors should not expect services typically provided by the National Park Service to be available. All visitors are urged to practice safety in the park and plan ahead. Be a good park steward by recreating responsibly and practicing Leave No Trace principles, respecting cultural and natural resources.
Information regarding the Department of Interior’s Operations in the Absence of Appropriations can be found here: https://www.doi.gov/shutdown.
When federal funding is restored, we look forward to continuing to work with our park partner to ensure the C&O Canal remains beautiful, safe, and welcoming for visitors today and for future generations. Love the Park? Help the Trust! Consider making a donation. Your support directly helps fund beautification, conservation, education, and preservation initiatives in the park.