Nathaniel Lyon Memorial State Park is a historic site located in Eastford, Connecticut, dedicated to the memory of Brigadier General Nathaniel Lyon, the first Union general killed in the Civil War. Lyon fell at the Battle of Wilson’s Creek in Missouri on August 10, 1861, and became a powerful symbol of Union sacrifice in the early months of the conflict.

The memorial park is situated in the northeastern Connecticut town where Lyon was born in 1818. The quiet New England setting of rolling hills, stone walls, and hardwood forests provides a contemplative atmosphere appropriate for a memorial site. The park preserves the connection between this small Connecticut town and one of the most significant figures of the Civil War’s opening chapter.

Visitors to the memorial can learn about Lyon’s military career, from his service in the Mexican-American War through his crucial role in keeping Missouri in the Union at the start of the Civil War. The park offers a peaceful setting for reflection amid the rural Connecticut landscape, with opportunities for quiet walks and historical contemplation in one of the state’s lesser-known but historically significant memorial sites.

Explore Nearby

• Blackwell Brook Bridge — Covered Bridge in Connecticut
• Connecticut State Route 169 — Scenic Byway in Connecticut
• Quinebaug River Bridge — Covered Bridge in Massachusetts
• Mystic Seaport Light — Lighthouse in Connecticut
• Sassafras Point Light — Lighthouse in Rhode Island