Near Fredericksburg in Spotsylvania County, Virginia — The American South (Mid-Atlantic)
The Meade Pyramid
The Battle of Fredericksburg
Fredericksburg and Spotsylvania National Military Park
| | National Park Service, U.S. Department of the Interior | |
Photographed by Craig Swain, May 25, 2008
1. The Meade Pyramid Marker
Usually thought of as a Union monument, the large pyramid in front of you was in fact erected by the Confederate Memorial Literary Society. In 1897, the society contacted Virginia railroad executives asking them to erect markers at historically significant sites along their lines. The president of the Richmond, Fredericksburg, and Potomac Railroad embraced the proposal, but rather than simply erected a sign, he constructed a stone pyramid modeled after the memorial to the unknown Confederate dead buried in Richmond's Hollywood Cemetery.
The monument here marks the point where General George G. Meade's Union division penetrated the boggy gap in "Stonewall" Jackson's lines on December 13, 1862. Over the years it has become known as the Meade Pyramid. The monument in not accessible.
Erected by National Park Service, U.S. Department of the Interior.
Topics. This historical marker is listed in this topic list: War, US Civil. A significant historical month for this entry is December 1860.
Location. 38° 15.147′ N, 77° 26.262′ W. Marker is near Fredericksburg, Virginia, in Spotsylvania County. It is on Lee Drive, on the left when traveling east. Although the pyramid and marker are located on National Park Service land, it is across the Amtrak/CSX railroad tracks.
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Regionally, this marker is in the Washington Metropolitan Area, in Northern Virginia, and in the Piedmont. It is also in the American South, specifically in the Upper South, and in the Mid-Atlantic. Globally, it is in the North Atlantic Region, North America, the Western Hemisphere, the Western World, and the Anglosphere. Historically, it finds itself in what was once the territory of the Mississippian Culture, one of the original Thirteen Colonies, one of the Confederate States of America, and the Antebellum South.
Other nearby markers. At least 8 other markers are within walking distance of this marker: A Southern Memorial (approx. 0.2 miles away); Jackson (approx. 0.3 miles away); Fredericksburg Campaign (approx. 0.3 miles away); Jackson Holds Prospect Hill (approx. 0.3 miles away); a different marker also named Fredericksburg Campaign (approx. 0.3 miles away); Dead Horse Hill (approx. 0.3 miles away); Hamilton's Crossing (approx. 0.3 miles away); a different marker also named Hamilton's Crossing (approx. 0.3 miles away). Touch for a list and map of all markers in Fredericksburg.
More about this marker. The background is a photograph of the pyramid.
Related marker. Click here for another marker that is related to this marker. The stone pyramid in Richmond's Hollywood Cemetery, as mentioned on this marker.
Photographed by Craig Swain, May 25, 2008
2. The Meade Pyramid Seen from the Marker Location
As seen by the visitors walking back from the pyramid, clearly the site is accessible, it is more properly defined as on "private property."
Photographed by Kevin W., December 9, 2007
3. A Southern Memorial
Photographed by Gary Wahl, October 8, 2009
4. The Meade Pyramid
Photo taken from Amtrak Auto Train traveling south at approximately 40mph.
Credits. This page was last revised on February 23, 2026. It was originally submitted on May 27, 2008, by Craig Swain of Leesburg, Virginia. This page has been viewed 10,353 times since then and 338 times this year. Last updated on February 22, 2026, by Mike McKeown of Baltimore, Maryland. Photos: 1, 2. submitted on May 27, 2008, by Craig Swain of Leesburg, Virginia. 3. submitted on December 10, 2007, by Kevin W. of Stafford, Virginia. 4. submitted on October 9, 2009, by Gary Wahl of Davie, United States. • Devry Becker Jones was the editor who published this page.
