The well-known Virginia cemetery, final resting place
of over 200,000 soldiers, is situated on what was originally an 1100-acre
estate owned by the "adopted grandson" of George Washington (son of a son of
Martha Washington by her first marriage). With the death, in 1857, of this
adopted grandson of George Washington, ownership passed to his daughter,
Mary Anna Custis Lee, the wife of Robert E. Lee. General Lee, fresh from
his superintendence at the US Military Academy (West Point), returned to
Arlington as
executor of the estate and custodian of Arlington House.
Under the terms of her father's will, Mary Anna could live at Arlington and
control the property until her death, after which title would pass to her
oldest son. So, contrary to popular belief, Robert E. Lee never
owned the Arlington estate.
The approaching Civil War would prove impactful for Arlington and for those
who lived there. In 1861, Virginia joined the Confederacy and seceded from
the Union. Lee was appointed major general over Virginia's military forces
and the Lees left their home, for Mary Anna's safety.
Shortly after secession, federal troops surrounded the estate and, in 1864,
the US government seized Arlington on the basis of non-payment of taxes.
Brig. Gen. Montgomery C. Meigs, commander of a Union garrison at Arlington
House, appropriated the grounds for use as a military cemetery.
Neither
Robert E. Lee nor Mary Anna Custis Lee ever attempted to recover control of Arlington.
Mary Anna died in 1873, after which her son (the intended recipient per his
grandfather's pre-Civil War will), sued for the return of Arlington. In
December 1882, a 5-4 decision by the US Supreme Court returned the property
to him, stating that it had been confiscated without due process. Four
months later, Congress purchased the property for $150,000.
Only two presidents are buried at Arlington: William Howard Taft
and John F.
Kennedy (keep in mind that many presidents are buried at their "presidential
libraries." Taft had also been a Secretary of War, and of course JFK
offered distinguished service in the US Navy. Others of note interred
at Arlington include (hold your mouse over a name for a brief description):
Richard Byrd, Robert Peary, Audie Murphy, Dashell Hammett, Albert Sabin,
Medgar Evers, Thurgood Marshall, Pappy Boyington, Glenn Miller, two of the
Apollo 1 astronauts (see & click the Feb. 10, 1967 LIFE Magazine cover at right), four of the 37 dead of the USS Stark, and crew remains
from two space shuttles, Challenger (7
victims) and Columbia (7
victims). Arlington is the site of the
Tomb of the Unknowns.
Three major annual memorial services are held each year, in the
Amphitheater. They are Easter sunrise service, Memorial Day service, and
Veterans Day service - held as 6 AM, 11 AM, and 11 AM, respectively.
Arlington National Cemetery is administered by the Department of the Army.
Recommended Resources
| Websites | |
| Arlington National Cemetery websites Official Unofficial | Q&A: Who is eligible for burial at Arlington? Website |
| Find a Grave - Information about cemeteries and who is buried in them Website Arlington-specific page | Map of Arlington with key graves & memorials Website |
| Books and Other Media | ||||
| Book Where the Valor Rests |
Book Arlington National Cemetery: Shrine to America's Heroes |
Book Arlington Seen through Images of the Tombstones and Monuments |
Video (DVD) Arlington - Field of Honor |
Video
(Downloadinfo) Arlington - Field of Honor |
| Other Sites of Potential Interest (content selected automatically) |
Test Your Knowledge
This test covers the information in this article. Read each question and decide in your head what the answer is. Click the empty cell in the Answers column to see the correct answer.
| Arlington National Cemetery | What was Robert E. Lee's exact relationship to George & Martha Washington? | Married to Martha's granddaughter through her first marriage |
| To what rank was Robert E. Lee appointed when he joined the Confederacy? | Major General | |
| How many soldiers are buried at Arlington? | Over 200,000 | |
| For what amount did the US government finally purchase Arlington in 1883? | $150,000 | |
| How many US presidents are buried at Arlington National Cemetery, and who are they? | Taft and Kennedy | |
| In what state is Arlington National Cemetery located? | Virginia |
Click Here to go to the "Test Your Knowledge" page covering all articles included in this week's theme on DailyUSHistory.com.
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