As the final resting place for over 400,000 United States service members and their families, Arlington National Cemetery celebrates the people and events that have shaped the nation. Located right across from Washington, D.C. in Arlington, Virginia, what could have been a simple military cemetery has instead been able to make a monumentous impact across the eras due to how it invites audiences to honor, remember, and explore the legacy of the United States.
A Final Resting Place for Active Duty Military and More
Established during the Civil War, what would become Arlington National Cemetery was established on the grounds of a Greek revival-style mansion owned by Confederate General Robert E. Lee. The Arlington House mansion still overlooks the cemetery, providing visitors with a distinct way to experience the origins of the cemetery.
The first military burial at Arlington took place in 1864 for Private William Henry Christman. Existing national cemeteries in the area closed when burials began at Arlington and continued to take place on the property long after the Civil War ended. This caused Lee’s heir to sue the United States in 1872, claiming ownership of Arlington. Congress returned the estate to the family, who then sold it back to the government to allow the land to become a military reservation.
Over the decades the site has expanded and changed. The original cemetery was 200 acres but it now features 639 acres with the final resting places of people from United States conflicts beginning with the Civil War, although others from earlier wars have been reinterred in Arlington National Cemetery. Those eligible to be buried at Arlington include active-duty military and retired reservists, recipients of the military’s highest honors, and former POWs.
Under the jurisdiction of the Department of the Army, the landscape of Arlington National Cemetery was designed to serve as a tribute to the service and sacrifice of every individual laid to rest in it. However, this landscape also contains numerous individual monuments that have further connected audiences with the legacy each represents.
The Tomb of the Unknown Soldier, McClellan Gate and More
Home to 30 distinct memorials and monuments, Arlington National Cemetery honors the men and women who have served in the armed forces in a variety of ways. Maps and guides of Arlington National Cemetery are on display throughout the area, highlighting how audiences can interact and engage with all of them.
The Tomb of the Unknown Soldier possesses power and mystique unlike any other monument or memorial at Arlington. Guarded 24/7/365 by volunteer Sentinels from the 3rd U.S. Infantry Regiment, a special ceremony is conducted every day at the top of the hour. It honors all American service members who are “Known But to God.”
Other monuments are notable for a variety of reasons. The Gravesite of President John F. Kennedy has become one of the most visited places in all of Arlington National Cemetery and helped transform it from a military cemetery into a true landmark. The McClellan Gate was dedicated to Major General George B. McClellan and served as the main gate until 1879. The Nurses Memorial defines the resting place of 653 nurses who heroically served in the U.S. armed forces.
Other memorials vary in size and scope, from the large USS Maine Mast Memorial that honors those who died aboard the USS Maine in 1898 to the simple Space Shuttle Challenger Memorial marker. All of them have enabled distinct connections with audiences that have attracted the attention of people from across the nation and beyond.
Tours, Events and More
Daily tours of Arlington National Cemetery begin at the Welcome Center. A 45-minute loop gives visitors the chance to hop on and off at a variety of key points of interest. Tour guides from these paid tours are available to answer questions and can share especially interesting details about the landmark. Additionally, the Welcome Center contains a variety of products for sale along with displays that showcase the history of the site.
The Tomb of the Unknown Soldier is part of the Arlington Memorial Amphitheater, which has hosted state funerals and Memorial Day and Veterans Day ceremonies. Some 5,000 visitors attend each of these national ceremonies, which are sponsored by the U.S. Army Military District of Washington. Numerous military and government organizations also conduct annual memorial services at the cemetery.
Up to 30 funerals take place each day while approximately 6,900 burials are conducted each year. These burials highlight the essential purpose that Arlington National Cemetery continues to serve for the community and nation while also enabling everyone to experience and engage with a much larger legacy.
More Than a Cemetery
Arlington National Cemetery is open 365 days a year and is visited by more than 4 million people each year. It showcases how something that might otherwise just be part of the landscape can instead cultivate attention and activity to make it something much larger in scale and scope. Arlington National Cemetery is more than a cemetery on account of how it enables engagement that connects the past with the present for an entire nation.
