Soldiers and Sailors Memorial Chapel

The Soldiers’ and Sailors’ Memorial Chapel was erected in 1887. The Marion County commissioners issued a tax levy to pay for the construction. Inside the original oak doors are inscribed names of 2,800 local men who served in the Revolutionary War, the War of 1812, and the Civil War. It includes those who fought for the Union and the Confederacy and honors both white military members and people of color.

The chapel is listed on the National Register of Historic Places. The Marion Cemetery donated the land. The county owns the monument. Services for veterans and others placed in the crypts are held in the chapel, though it is now closed. Plans are being made to restore this historic structure for future tours and visitor access.

Bells chime hymns over the cemetery several times a day to honor those who served. Cannons from the Civil War are displayed outside.