The Andersonville National Historic Site has a three-fold mission—namely, operation of the National Prisoner of War Museum; care of the Andersonville National Cemetery; and preservation of Camp Sumter, also known as Andersonville prison. Camp Sumter was among the largest Civil War prisons established by the Confederacy, and housed more than 32,000 Union soldiers in 1864. At that time, more than 100 men died on an average day in the camp. The National Prisoner of War Museum honors the U.S. men and women who have suffered as prisoners of war. The Andersonville National Cemetery originally served as the burial grounds of Union soldiers who died in Camp Sumter. Today, the cemetery is an active site for veteran burials.
The site offers a curriculum-based educational program for students, educational resource packages for rental, a 3-mile self-guided hike with a questionnaire, Junior Ranger activities, exhibits, and a summer camp. The educational program focuses on the prison at Camp Sumter; and meets Florida, Georgia, Tennessee, and Alabama educational standards. The educational program must be scheduled at least two weeks in advance.