Historic Dils Cemetery

Historic Dils Cemetery

Perched on a hill overlooking Pikeville, Kentucky, Dils Cemetery is a historic and peaceful final resting place that reflects the diverse and complex past of Eastern Kentucky.

Established in 1871 by Colonel John Dils, Jr., this two-acre site at the mouth of Chloe Creek was created on land that already included the Syck family’s graves. Dils set aside part of the land for his own family and opened it to the entire community—most notably, he allowed his freed slaves and their descendants to be buried here, making Dils Cemetery the first racially integrated cemetery in Eastern Kentucky.

Today, more than 500 graves lie beneath the shade of towering trees, where Revolutionary and Civil War soldiers, wealthy landowners, and prominent community figures share the hillside with African Americans who had lived many years as slaves. Among them rests Randall McCoy—leader of the McCoy clan during the infamous Hatfield-McCoy Feud—along with his wife Sarah, daughter Roseanna, son Sam, and Sam’s wife Martha.

Dils Cemetery is also home to the graves of Pikeville’s first postmaster and a Black man who once served as Stonewall Jackson’s aide, underscoring the cemetery’s inclusive history. It stands as a powerful testament to the region’s past and the enduring values of dignity and equality.

The site is currently leased by the City of Pikeville from the heirs of Colonel Dils. Efforts to preserve and document its rich history have been supported by the Pikeville-Pike County Tourism Commission, including improved access, landscaping, and an inventory of African American graves led by Professor Peggy Davis of Pikeville College.

Open year-round during daylight hours, Dils Cemetery invites visitors to explore its historic gravesites and reflect on the lives of those who rest here. Listed on the National Register of Historic Places as part of the Hatfield-McCoy Feud Historic District, this site remains a fascinating piece of American folklore and Kentucky heritage.