Just outside of Americus, Georgia, the Andersonville National Historic Site stands as a sobering monument to one of the darkest chapters of the Civil War. Built to hold 10,000 Union prisoners, the 26-acre stockade was quickly engulfed by crisis when over 32,000 captive soldiers were crammed within its walls. Deprived of adequate food, clean water, and basic shelter, the men endured unfathomable conditions inside the open-air pen. By war’s end, nearly 13,000 of the 45,000 soldiers imprisoned at Andersonville had perished—their lives claimed primarily by severe malnutrition and disease.

The site comprises three main components: the National Prisoner of War Museum, the historic Civil War prison site, and Andersonville National Cemetery.

The National Prisoner of War Museum

This national memorial honors the courage and sacrifice of all American prisoners of war across every major U.S. conflict. Through video presentations and historic exhibits, the museum brings to light the true cost of preserving freedom. Rather than mimicking a single location, the building’s architecture uses symbolic design elements—reminiscent of looming guard towers and heavy stockades—to honor the POW experience in every war throughout American history.

This museum provides a comprehensive and emotional account of the prisoner’s experiences. The exhibits highlight the stories of individual prisoners, the conditions they faced, and the resilience they demonstrated while enduring captivity.

The Prison Site

The Site encompasses the grounds of the former prison camp.

Above: Reconstructions of the prison stockade. 

Below: Drawing of what the camp resembled.

Throughout the historic site, state memorials commemorate the extraordinary sacrifices of Civil War soldiers and prisoners of war. Built by states to honor their own, these monuments keep alive the memory of those who endured the grim conditions at Andersonville Confederate Prison. The Wisconsin State Memorial, for instance, stands in proud tribute to the Wisconsin troops held captive within the stockade.

Andersonville National Cemetery

Immediately adjacent to the prison site lies the sobering expanse of the Andersonville National Cemetery. Established during the war to bury the thousands of Union soldiers who succumbed to disease, exposure, and starvation, the grounds hold the remains of nearly 13,000 men who perished directly within the stockade. Expanded in the decades following the war, the cemetery now cradles nearly 20,000 American servicemen and women—transforming a place born of tragedy into an enduring sanctuary of national honor.

At immense personal risk, a young Union prisoner named Dorence Atwater performed an extraordinary act of quiet defiance inside Andersonville. Assigned to record inmate deaths for the Confederate authorities, Atwater systematically kept a secret, duplicate ledger—meticulously detailing each deceased soldier’s name, regiment, date of death, and exact grave number. Following the war, he entrusted his secret records to Clara Barton, who used them to assist the Missing Soldiers Office in notifying grieving families. Published as the historic “Atwater List,” his brave documentation allowed thousands of unmarked graves to be properly identified, bringing definitive answers to desperate families and laying the groundwork for the Andersonville National Cemetery.

Though a challenging and emotionally heavy stop, visiting Andersonville provided an essential moment to honor the memory of those who suffered here. The site stands as a reminder of war’s true human cost, highlighting the profound importance of preserving history so future generations may learn from it. Thank you, National Park Service.