Services
Campgrounds
Hotels
Dining
Activities
Weather
  Park Information
Park Home
Plan Your Visit
History & Culture
For Teachers
For Kids
Management
Support Your Park
Site Index

Back to Main Page

QUICKLINKS:

Sacrifice and Courage

From the Revolutionary War to Operation Iraqi Freedom, American prisoners of war have endured untold hardships, and shown tremendous courage. Andersonville NHS commemorates the sacrifices of these brave Americans through exhibits in the National Prisoner of War Museum; preserves the site of Camp Sumter (Andersonville prison); and manages Andersonville National Cemetery.
 
Historic photo of the sinks at Camp Sumter

Andersonville Prison (Camp Sumter)

Camp Sumter, commonly called Andersonville, was one of the largest military prisons established by the Confederacy during the Civil War. In existence for 14 months, over 45,000 Union soldiers were confined at the prison. Of these, almost 13,000 died from disease, poor sanitation, malnutrition, overcrowding, and exposure to the elements. The largest number held in the 26½-acre stockade at any one time was more than 32,000, during August of 1864. Today the beauty of the prison site belies the suffering that once took place inside the stockade.

 
Sculpture in POW Memorial Courtyard

National Prisoner of War Museum

The 1970 legislation responsible for establishing Andersonville National Historic Site instructed the site "to interpret the role of prisoners-of-war camps in history" and "to commemorate the sacrifice of Americans who lost their lives in such camps." To that end, the exhibits in the National Prisoner of War Museum serve as a memorial to all American prisoners of war. The museum opened in 1998 and is dedicated to the American men and women who have suffered as POWs.
 
Minnesota monument in Andersonville National Cemetery

Andersonville National Cemetery

The cemetery is the final resting place for those who perished while being held as POWs at Camp Sumter. It is now a National Cemetery, serving as a honored burial place for present-day veterans. The National Park Service maintains fourteen National Cemeteries nationwide. Only two of these, Andersonville National Historic Site and Andrew Johnson National Historic Site are classified as active, continuing to bury veterans and their dependents.

 

 

 

 

Write to

Andersonville NHS
496 Cemetery Road
Andersonville, GA 31711

Phone

Visitor Information
(229) 924-0343

Fax

(229) 924-1086

Climate

Andersonville NHS is located in Southwest Georgia. Summers are usually hot and humid with normal temperatures in the 90s during the daytime and 70s overnight. Winters are mild with normal temperatures in the 40s or 50s during the daytime and 30s or 40s overnight. 
Communities Surrounding Andersonville National Historic Site
Note: The times listed below are approximate driving times to the park.
Andersonville, GA (1 min. ) Pop. 331
Oglethorpe, GA (11 min. ) Pop. 1,200
Montezuma, GA (14 min. ) Pop. 3,999
Americus, GA (14 min. ) Pop. 17,013
Ellaville, GA (20 min. ) Pop. 1,609
Shiloh, GA (24 min. ) Pop. 423
Ideal, GA (26 min. ) Pop. 518
Plains, GA (27 min. ) Pop. 637
Leslie, GA (27 min. ) Pop. 455
Byromville, GA (29 min. ) Pop. 415
 Smithville, GA (31 min. ) Pop. 774
Marshallville, GA (31 min. ) Pop. 1,335
Concord, GA (33 min. ) Pop. 336
Cobb, GA (34 min. ) Pop. 311
Lilly, GA (37 min. ) Pop. 221
Buena Vista, GA (38 min. ) Pop. 1,664
Rupert, GA (38 min. )
Unadilla, GA (43 min. ) Pop. 2,772
Vienna, GA (48 min. ) Pop. 2,973
Pinehurst, GA (49 min. ) Pop. 307