About an hour west of Columbus, Georgia, visitors can explore the only national park that serves as a memorial to all American prisoners of war.

Comprised of three distinct sections, the Andersonville National Historic Site is a relic of America’s Civil War history that is still in use today. The former site of the Camp Sumter military prison harkens back to its original use as a stockade behind Confederate army lines, built to contain Union soldiers. Although Camp Sumter was constructed about 18 months before the Civil War ended, its cemetery remains active. The Andersonville National Cemetery was established on July 26, 1865, and held the remains of more than 13,800 Union soldiers by 1868. Today, it averages about 150 burials annually. The latest addition to the site, the National Prisoner of War Museum, opened in 1998 to commemorate all U.S. prisoners of war across every conflict.

Visitors to Andersonville National Historic Site can listen to audio tours while walking the grounds. Each exhibit aims to provide an understanding of prisoner of war camps during the Civil War and throughout history, while honoring the sacrifices of American soldiers lost to such camps. Most guests spend about two hours in the park, while those with a special interest in Civil War or American military history may spend an entire day researching.