Arlington National Cemetery Monument

Address: Arlington National Cemetery, Arlington, VA 22211, USA

Website: https://www.arlingtoncemetery.mil/

Hours: Daily (hours vary seasonally) - check official site before visiting

Admission: Free

Arlington National Cemetery is a United States military cemetery in Arlington County, Virginia, directly across the Potomac River from Washington, D.C., established during the Civil War on the grounds of the former Arlington estate. It serves as a national military burial ground and memorial setting for American servicemembers and notable national figures.

Key sites include the Tomb of the Unknown Soldier with its constant guard, the historic Arlington House (the Lee family mansion), and the gravesite of President John F. Kennedy marked by an eternal flame. The cemetery contains thousands of military graves and numerous memorials honoring service across American conflicts.

Created in the 1860s on land seized during the Civil War, the cemetery expanded over time and became the principal national military burial ground for the Washington area. It continues to operate as an active cemetery and ceremonial site for military funerals and national commemorations.

Arlington National Cemetery is immediately adjacent to the District of Columbia, a short drive from the National Mall, and is accessible to visitors via the cemetery’s visitor center and dedicated parking and shuttle services.

• Establishment and size: Established during the American Civil War on land that had been part of the Arlington estate and now covers over 600 acres of landscaped cemetery grounds.
• Functions: Contains military graves, memorials and sections for all branches of the U.S. armed forces, with public visitation and a visitor center offering orientation and maps.

What to See#

• Tomb of the Unknown Soldier: A marble monument guarded 24/7 where a changing of the guard ceremony is conducted and where an unknown servicemember is interred.
• Arlington House: A historic mansion on the grounds that served as the home of Robert E. Lee before the Civil War and now contains exhibits about the site’s history.
• Kennedy gravesite: The gravesite of President John F. Kennedy, marked by an eternal flame and visited by many visitors each year.

• By public transit: Take the Washington Metro Blue Line to Arlington Cemetery station - the station exits adjacent to the cemetery and the main visitor routes (Tomb of the Unknown Soldier/Visitor Center) are a short walk (typically 5-15 minutes) from the station.

• By car: From downtown Washington, D.C. cross the Potomac via Memorial Bridge or take I‑395 into Arlington; follow signs for Arlington National Cemetery/ Arlington Memorial Bridge. The cemetery has a visitor center with parking; expect a short drive from central D.C. depending on traffic.

• Start your visit at the Arlington National Cemetery Visitor Center to collect a map, check ranger program times and posted schedules for the Tomb of the Unknown Soldier ceremony-arriving 30-45 minutes before the guard change secures a good viewing spot.
• Plan to see highlights by tram or on a guided tour if you have limited mobility or time; otherwise build in blocks of walking time-points of interest (Tomb of the Unknown, Kennedy graves, Arlington House) are spread out and require a deliberate route.
• Visit on a weekday morning to avoid weekend tour-bus crowds and special-event traffic; check the cemetery's official site in advance for closures or ceremony schedules that can affect access.