Beaufort National Cemetery expansion adds 2.5K burial niches

BEAUFORT, S.C. (WTOC) - Beaufort National Cemetery completed an expansion project designed to provide additional burial spaces for veterans in the Lowcountry.

The project’s new Columbarium 2 plaza is two-and-a-half times larger than Columbarium 1, providing 2,500 burial niches across 18 walls.

What is a columbarium?

A columbarium is an above-grade structure designed for the interment of cremated remains in small individual compartments called niches.

The niches measure 10.5 inches by 15 inches by 20 inches deep, measured at the face. The columbarium unit is usually two-sided for efficiency, with numbered rows and columns identifying each individual niche.

Advantages of columbarium burial

Burial in a columbarium provides access for people with mobility issues who struggle to reach traditional grave sites in the in-ground sections. It allows family and friends to reach their loved one’s grave without leaving the sidewalks.

The cemetery said it is also an efficient burial option that allows it to maximize the number of veterans and their eligible family members who can be interred at Beaufort National Cemetery.

Location, visitor access

The cemetery does not expect to conduct its first burial in Columbarium 2 for about two years. The plaza is open to visitors, who can sit on several installed benches. Columbarium 2 is located on the northeast corner of the cemetery near Sections F, G, H and C6 at the top of the horseshoe road. New signs mark the way to the plaza.

Beaufort National Cemetery is one of 157 national cemeteries in the system. Anyone with questions about burial options at Beaufort National Cemetery or other national cemeteries can visit in person, call 843-524-3925 or email Beaufort.NationalCemetery@va.gov.